
Class _i£z^LLL_ 

Book_ 

Goppglrt)^^ 

COFYRtGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE PERIOD OF 
DISCOVERY 




Statue of Columbus at Madrid. 



Ame7~ican Historical Readers 



THE PERIOD OF 
DISCOVERY 



BY 

JOSEPH V. McKEE, M. A. 

De Witt Clinton High School, New York City 
AND 

LOUISE S. ROEMER 

Public Schools, New York City 




NEW YORK 
THE CENTURY CO. 



■/Vil4Z 



Copyright, 19 14, 19 15, by 
The Century Co. 



SEP 23 1915 



ICI.A411872 



TO 
OUR ESTEEMED FRIEND 

F. A. Y. 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY 
DEDICATED 



FOREWORD 

That the introduction to the study of history should be 
chielly biographical and in story form, is a sound principle 
which has received the approval of many leading educa- 
tional authorities and has been accepted widely as correct 
pedagogical practice. 

The authors of this reader have applied this principle in 
a skillful, concrete way and have made the work especially 
valuable and attractive to youthful readers. The boy char- 
acters give a vividness to the stories which could be se- 
cured in no other manner. The plan of combining the 
grade work in history and civics will be welcomed by 
teacliers who have long felt the need of such an arrange- 
ment. 

Frank Alfred Young, Pd.D. 

Principal Public School 25. 

The Bronx, New York City. 



PREFACE 

The American Historical Reader has been planned on lines 
of advanced psychology to meet the requirements of the 
fifth year in the study of history and civics. 

The authors have designed the book to meet the new 
conditions in the course of study. The stories which are 
told in easy, fictional form inculcate the essentials of his- 
tory and civics for the fifth year. In addition, the verse 
which has been quoted teaches the required ethical lessons 
of the grade and makes the book more interesting to the 
pupil. Up to the present, this feature which is of great 
value, has been neglected in the historical readers written 
for public schools. The volume, therefore, has the three- 
fold advantage of meeting in the most interesting manner, 
the requirements in history, civics, and ethical lessons. 

While the stories are in the form of fiction, they are 
based strictly upon fact and are shaped as closely to the 
actual as diligent and careful research could accomplish. 
The most accurate writings form the basis of the stories 
and the matter for the description of character, dress, and 
customs, has been drawn from the most reliable sources. 

The Reader conforms closely with the latest revision of 
the course in history and is also in accord with the New 
York State Regents' Syllabtts of History. 



PREFACE 

The authors wish to extend thanks to Dr. Frank A. 
Young, whose advice and suggestion shaped the plan and 
scope of our work and to Miss Katherine Richardson, who 
rendered great assistance in the reading and correction of 
the manuscript. 



CONTENTS 

TART I 

AAIERTCAN HISTORY 

PAGE 

AMERICA 3 

THE COMING OF LEIF, THE SOX OF ERIC 5 

A SOXG OF THE SEA 15 

COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 17 

COLUMBUS 28 

AMERIGO VESPUCCI 30 

OUR COUNTRY AND FLAG • • 32 

VOVAGES OF JOHN AND SEBASTIAN CABOT 33 

GOD BLESS OUR NATIVE LAND 38 

PONCE DE Le6n 39 

PSALM OF LIFE 44 

BALBOA DISCOVERS THE PACIFIC 46 

WHEN DAYS ARE O'ERBURDEXED WITH TROUBLE 51 

J'ERDINAND DE SOTO 52 

LOVE OF COUNTRY 60 

THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 61 

THE AMERICAN FLAG 72 

THE CONQUEST OF PERU y^, 

MAGELLAN AND THE VOYAGE OF THE "VICTORIA" 81 

DRAKE'S VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD 90 

IT ISN'T RAINING RAIN TO ME 103 

HENRY HUDSON 104 

MANY FLAGS IN MANY LANDS 1 13 

THE INDIANS II4 

HIAWATHA'S CHILDHOOD 122 

JACQUES CARTIER 125 

OBEDIENCE I3I 



CONTENTS 

PACE 

CIIAMPLAIN 132 

HAIL, COLUMniA! I_^0 

SIR WALTER RALEIGH I_^I 



DON'T GIVE UP 



147 



CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA I^S 

MILES STANDISH AND THE COMING OF THE PILGRIMS . • • . 15K 

LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS IX NEW ENGLAND . . . ,66 

JOHN WINTHROP AND THE SETTLEMENT OF BOSTON ,68 

THE DUTCH AND TOE NEW NETHERLAND 177 

THE CALVERTS AND MARYLAND 187 

PENNSYLVANIA ig2 

PART II 

CIVICS 

FOOD 201 



W.\TER 



207 



THE COST OF OUR WATER SUPPLY 212 

THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT 219 



PART T 
AMERICAN HISTORY 



THE 
PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



AMERICA 



My country! 't is of thee 
Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing; 
Land where my fathers died ! 
Land of the Pilgrims' pride! 
From every mountain side 

Let freedom ring-! 



My native country, thee — 
Land of the noble free — 

Thy name I love ; 
I love thy rocks and rills, 
Thy woods and templed hills; 
My heart with rapture thrills 

Like that above. 
3 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

3- 

Let music swell the breeze, 
And ring" from all the trees, 

Sweet freedom's song; 
Let mortal tongues awake ; 
Let all that breathe partake ; 
Let rocks their silence break, — 

The sound prolong. 

4- 
Our father's God ! to Thee, 
Author of liberty, 

To Thee we sing; 
Long may our land be bright 
With freedom's holy light ; 
Protect us by thy might. 
Great God, our King ! 

SanntLi Francis Smith 



THE COMING OF LEIF THE SOX OF ERIC 
looo A. D. 

All was noise and excitement. The air was filled with 
the sounds of preparation and the clink-clank of armor as 
the Norsemen moved about on the shores of Greenland's 
bay. Great, tall men were they, with eyes of blue, and 
flaxen hair. As they strode along the beach dressed in 
their heavy helmets of iron and coats of mail and carrying 
long, sharp swords at their sides, they seemed like great, 
strong giants ready for war. They were brave men who 
knew no fear. 

As Oscar Thorsen, a young Norse boy, stood watching 
the men hurrying along the shore, he felt very proud 
for Oscar's father had told him how his ancestors, 
the Vikings, had sailed the wintry seas of the North. He 
had read in the " Sagas," which were the Norse histories, 
that his fathers had been conquerors on England's shore 
and on the far ofif coast of France. He also rememberei' 
the long voyage from his old home in Iceland across the 
stormy ocean to Greenland. When he thought of these 
wonderful things, he felt very proud. He was very proud, 
too, for another reason. 

Leif the Son of Eric the Red, the great king of Green- 
land, had told Oscar's father and the other Norsemen about 

S 



6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

a wonderful land lying far away in the West. Like true, 
brave Norsemen, they had promised to go in search of the 
new country even though they might perish on the stormy 
waters and never get back to their homes again. 

" Father." said Oscar when his father had told him about 




The Discovery of Greenland 

the expedition, " please let me go, too. I am fifteen years 
old and I am big and strong and can handle an oar now 
like a man. See my muscles." Oscar rolled up his sleeves 
just as boys do nowadays to show their strong arms. 

" Yes, my son, you are strong," replied his father, " but 
you need more than courage. The dangers are great and 
death is always near." 

" I can be brave," answered Oscar ; " I am a Xorscman, 
just like vou. A Norseman is never afraid." 



COMING OF LEIF SON OF ERIC 



When the brave boy said this, his father patted him on the 
shoulder and said, " I shall ask Leif, the Son of Eric, who 
is commander, whether you may go with us." 

Great was Oscar's joy when the leader, Leif, told him he 
might join the expedition. 




I 



The Viking Ship 

Many days had passed during which Oscar worked hard 
carrying provisions to the boat and helping the men in their 
preparations. They were to sail many, many days and had 
to have plenty to eat and drink. But now, at last, every- 
thing was ready. As Oscar stood watching the boat riding 
calmly on the water and the men hurrying about on the 
shore, he said aloud, " Oh, I am so glad that I can go, too ! " 

The sun shone high over the frozen hills of Greenland 
when Leif the Son of Eric and his thirty-five followers, 



8 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



including Oscar, embarked on their sturdy ship. This oc- 
curred al)out the year looo A. D., and their boat was not at 
all like the great ships that cross the oceans to-day. It 
looked like a great round-bottom rowboat and was about 
seventy-seven feet long. It was built very strongly of 
planks, placed on one another just like the shingles of a 
house. Inside it was made stronger with ribs of wood, 




A Viking Ship Under Oars and Sail 



fastened together with the fil)ers of roots found in Iceland 
and Greenland. Though this boat could sail through the 
severe storms of the Atlantic it w^as very light and could 
ride in water as shallow as four feet. The bow rose very 
high and was adorned with the head of a dragon, painted in 
many bright colors. The faces of strange sea animals were 
carved on the stern which was as high as the bow. The 
boat was rowed with great oars twenty feet long. 



COMING OF LEIF SON OF ERIC 9 

Oscar sat in the bow of the boat. His gaze wandered 
to the people on the shore who were waving good-by. As 
the land slipped farther and farther away he wondered if 
he would ever return. He heard the ripple of the waves 
against the prow of the boat and the splish-splash of the oars 
in the water. Then he looked down the boat and saw the 
broad backs of the sailors as they bent to the oars. He saw 
his leader, Leif the Son of Eric, — a big, brave man — using 
the long flat oar or " steer-board," guiding the boat. Oscar 
knew that all would be well, with such a great leader and 
such brave men. 

Far out into the Atlantic Ocean did they row, the sailors 
taking turns at the oars. When the wind came up, Leif 
ordered the oars taken in. 

" Raise the sail." he commanded. 

"Ay! ay!" called the men cheerily for they loved their 
leader. 

Quickly the Norsemen worked and in a few minutes a 
single, large, square sail was fluttering from the mast in 
the middle of the boat. With the sail up, the Viking ship 
looked very much like the craft of the Chinese. 

The breeze blew steadily and then the sailors rested. The 
long days were spent in looking for signs of the new land. 
Oscar would often sit in the bow of the boat, gazing with 
eager eyes for the outline of the new coast. He loved the 
strong wind and the smell of the salty sea and the deep roll 
of the boat on the waves. He was a true Norseman sailor 
and he delighted to listen to the tales his elders told. At 
night when the stars seemed low on the ocean he loved to 
listen to the song: of the sailors : 



lo THE PERIOD OF DISCOX'ERY 

Hurrah for the Norseman bold 

As he sails o'er the ocean dec]) ! 

Hurrah for the Vikings bold 

Who command where the storm clouds sweep ! 

Oscar would sing, too, the deep-voiced songjs of Ice- 
land. 

Leif the Son of Eric steered the vessel on a straight- 
southwest course. One evening Oscar saw far ahead in the 
distance a long, low, black line. 

" Land ! Land ! " he cried in great excitement and he 
pointed to the far-off coast. Sure enough, there in the dis- 
tance was the dark outline of a strange country. Great 
was the joy of Leif and his Norse sailors. They had not 
sailed in vain, \\dien they beached their boat on the shore 
of the newly-found coast, no flowers waved a welcome. No 
trees nodded greeting. Great, flat stones raised their heads 
from the rocky land. 

The Norsemen landed and soon Oscar and tlie sailors 
were exploring the country. \\'hen Leif the Son of Eric 
beheld the nature of the place, he called his men together and 
said in a loud voice, " Henceforth, let this land be called 
Helluland." 

Thus the new country was called " Helluland," or 
" Country of Slates " because of the flat stones which were 
found there. People now think that " Helluland " was 
really the rocky coast of Labrador. 

\\'hen the Norsemen had explored the land, Leif the Son 
of Eric called them together in council. " Comrades," he 
said, " we have discovered strange shores but our search 



COMING OF LEIF SON OF ERIC 



II 



should not end here. Let us continue to sail along the 
coast." 

The men thought this a good plan and soon all were 
embarked again in their ship. Oscar was delighted with the 
new country. He watched eagerly the changing coast as 
the Viking ship sailed along close to the shore. Finally they 
came to the most beautiful land Oscar had ever seen. In 





Northmen Exploring the New England Coast 



Iceland and Greenland the only trees he had beheld were 
small, stunted birch trees. Here there were many flowers, 
tall bushes with colored blossoms, and sweet-smelling woods. 
This country was perhaps the land of Nova Scotia. Leif 
the Son of Eric named it " Markland " which means 
" Woodland." 

Still further down the coast sailed the Norsemen until 
they came to what probably is now Massachusetts or Rhode 



12 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Island. Thus were the Norsemen the first white men to 
reach the shores of America. 

Here Leif the Son of Eric landed and divided his men 
into two parties to explore the country. \Miile one half 
was away, the rest of the men stayed near the ship and there 
built huts in which to live. 

On one of these expeditions into the country. Oscar went 
with his father and the other men of the party. They 
tra\eled through the deep woods and wondered at the 
beautiful things they saw. 

" What are those round, purple things? " asked Oscar as 
he found a vine loaded with large berries growing on a tree 
trunk. 

" I don't know," answered his father. " Perhaps they 
are good to eat." He bit into one and found it the sweetest 
fruit he had ever tasted. 

" Try some," he said to the others and when they tasted 
the fruit they all were delighted with the strange berries. 
The fruit which they thought were berries were juicy wild 
grapes. 

When Leif the Son of Eric heard of this pleasant dis- 
covery and because the land abounded in grapes, he called 
the country " Vinland." 

With the passing of winter and the coming of spring, 
Oscar's father called him to his hut. 

" Make ready, Oscar, to return home." he said. " Last 
night our leader, Leif, decided to l^egin our journey back to 
Greenland. To-morrow we sail." 

Oscar was sad to think of leaving the beautiful new 



COMING OF LEIF SON OF ERIC 



13 



country. Yet he wanted to see the shores of Greenland 
once again. And so they sailed away. 

Bidding farewell to the shores of Vinland, Leif and his 
Norsemen sailed over the Atlantic back to Greenland. On 
the voyage homeward, their leader saved fifteen men from 
shipwreck, and because of this happy deed the men called 




Leif's Settlement 



him Leif the Lucky. Even to this day do we read in history 
of Leif the Lucky. 

Oscar was glad to be home at last. But he loved the sea 
and longed to sail away again. So once more he set out 
for the West. By this time Leif had become King of 
Greenland ; and Thorwald, his brother, was in command. 
They made Oscar the guide because he knew the way. He 
directed them to the huts built by Leif and his father. It 



14 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

was on this expedition that the Norsemen first saw any in- 
habitants. They were tall copper-colored natives with 
straight l)lack hair and large cheek bones. The Norsemen 
called them " Skraelings," a term of reproach because they 
were not Norsemen. 

A quarrel took place between the Norsemen and the 
" Skraelings " ; and Thorwald, the leader, was killed. 
When he was dying he said : " Bury me here on these 
shores, here where I had hoped to build myself a home. 
You, my faithful men, return to Greenland." 

Sadly the Norsemen placed a cross over the grave of their 
dead leader, left the shores of North America, and steered 
for Greenland. 

Oscar sailed the northern seas for many years. When 
he could no longer pull the heavy oar, he used to spend the 
long winter evenings telling his children the story of Leif 
the Lucky and his expedition to Vinland. 



A SONG OF THE SEA 

The sea ! the sea ! the open sea ! 

The bhie, the fresh, the ever free! 

Without a mark, without a bound, 

It runneth the earth's wide regions round ; 

It plays with the clouds ; it mocks the skies ; 

Or like a cradled creature lies. 

I 'm on the sea ! I 'm on the sea ! 

I am where I would ever be ; 

With the blue above, and the blue below, 

And silence whereso'er I go. 

If a storm should come and awake the deep 

What matter? I should ride and sleep. 

I love (Oh! how I love) to ride 
On the fiercely foaming, bursting tide, 
When every mad wave drowns the moon, 
Or whistles aloft his tempest tune, 
And tells how goeth the world below 
And why the southwest blasts do blow. 

I never v\'as on the dull, tame shore, 
But I loved the great sea more and more. 
And backwards flew to her billowy breast, 
IS 



i6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Like a l)irtl that seeketh its mother's nest ; 
And a mother she was and is to me ; 
For I was born on the open sea ! 

• Bryan Waller Procter 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 



1492 



In a street of Palos, in the year 1492, two sailors stood 
talking. They were dressed in doublet and hose. Long 
pointed shoes were on their feet. Their hair hung in ring- 
lets upon their shoulders. Slender swords were in their 
belts. Their language was Spanish. 

" I, for one, will not go. No, not even at the King's 
command," said the one with purple cloak and flaxen hair. 

" Fie ! fie ! Think of our gracious Queen Isabella," ex- 
claimed the other who wore a doublet of green and yellow. 
" .She has sold all her jewels to fit out the ships." 




The Sea of Darkness 

" I care not," answered the first sailor. " This is all mad- 
ness. Who is this Christopher Columbus? A native of 
Genoa, Italy, a sea-captain with crazy ideas. He asked 
Venice for help. He went first to England and now he 

17 



i8 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

comes to Spain seeking assistance. He says the world is 
round and he knows a quicker route to India by saiHng 
west." 

" Well, cannot that be possible? " asked the second. 

"Possible? No. It is foolish. A\'hy, if he sails that 
way he will come to the end of the world and drop off," 
said his friend. " But what is worse, great monsters live 
in the ocean. They will devour his ships. Besides there 
are places where the water is so hot it boils. I will not join 
his crew. I should never come back." 

" You are wrong," spoke the sailor in doublet of green 
and yellow. " I think Columbus is right. He will find 
India. I am going to join his ship. I am not afraid." 

" All right, Fernando Andrea. You can go. I shall stay 
at home." 

" Good-by. I am going down to the quay to see the 
ships," replied Fernando as he left his friend. He walked 
dow'n the narrow street of P'alos to the wharves. 

Out from the dock Fernando saw three ships riding at 
anchor. The largest ship had the flag of Colum1)us at its 
mast. It was a high wooden vessel whose deck was low at 
the center. At the stern it had a second deck or poop which 
was much higher than the rest of the boat. Its bowsprit 
was set at a sharp angle, pointing high toward the heavens. 
This ship was the " Santa Maria." The other two boats 
w^ere much smaller. They had no second deck and they 
were called caravels. Their names were the " Pinta " and 
the " Nina." 

As Fernando stood watchiui/ the fleet, a tall well-built 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 



19 



rnan came to the wharf. His face was long, his nose sharp, 
and his complexion very clear. His hair was very gray, 
and care seemed to sadden his countenance. 

Fernando came up to him and said : " Sir, 1 know you 
are Christopher Columbus. I heard you needed sailors for 
your ships. I should like to sail with you. My name is 
Fernando Andrea." 




Columbus Bidding Farewell to Ferdinand and Isabella 

The face of Columbus, for it was he, lighted up with joy. 

" My son," he said in a tone of sorrow, " I do need men. 
To-morrow I sail to find a new way to India. Yet men are 
so afraid. The only men I can get are released criminals 
who are forced to go with me. I am glad I have found 
another brave man. You are most welcome. You shall be 
an officer on my ship, the ' Santa Maria.' " 



20 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

On the following day, August 3rd, 1492, the Santa Maria, 
the Nina and the Pinta lifted their wide, pointed sails with 
the Spanish cross uj^on them and left the harbor of Palos. 
The people who saw them go muttered, " Foolish, foolish. 
They will never return. They will fall off the earth." 

But Columbus stood on the high deck of his ship and 
looked toward the West. " At last," he exclaimed in joy, 
" we are on our way to India. Hard indeed has been the 
fight. Neither Venice nor Italy nor England w^ould help me. 
Now when I find India with its gold and jewels which 
Marco Polo wrote about, I shall pour the riches into the 
coffers of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. I am sure I 
shall succeed." 

But the crew of the Santa Alaria were not sure of success. 
When the ships left the Canary Islands on September 6th 
and no land was to be seen anywhere, the sailors grew mu- 
tinous. They were ignorant men who were forced against 
their will to go on the journey. 

"We shall surely die," they muttered; "our Admiral is 
crazy. We can never reach India. If we do, adverse winds 
will not let us return." 

They sailed on and on, and day after day slipped by with 
no land in sight; the sailors' fears grew worse. Some 
wanted to murder Columbus and return home. Fernando 
tried to quell their fears but they would not listen to 
him. 

One day when Femaado was at the steering-wheel, he 
noticed the needle of the compass Avas acting strangely. It 
pointed now to the Northwest instead of in the usual direc- 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 



21 



tion which was toward the North. He was greatly fright- 
ened. The compass was their only guide. In alarm he 
called Columbus. 

" Sir," cried Fernando, " the compass is acting queerly. 




Columbus' Flagship, the " Santa Maria " 

We are lost. Our only guide has forsaken us. What shall 

I do?" 

The face of Columbus grew pale with fear. Even he did 

not understand. But he was a hero, brave and true. 

" Sail on," he said. " Sail on. God protects the brave." 
Saying nothing about the compass, Columbus called his 

mutinous sailors together. He told them not to fear. 



22 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

" Soon we shall see land," he said. The men grew con- 
fident and lost their fears. 

Columbus spoke truly. After ten long weeks of sailing, 
the men of the Santa Maria beheld some birds which do not 
fly far from land. The air grew warm and balmy, and one 
day they picked up a paddle which had been carved from a 
tree and the next day a branch of red berries floated by. 

Eagerly the sailors watched for land. On the evening of 
October 12th, 1492, a sailor on the Pinta saw in the dis- 
tance a long, low, black line. " Land, land! " he cried and 
the thrilling cry passed from sailor to sailor, " Land, land ! " 

When day came, Columbus and his men saw a wonderful 
sight. Before their eyes stretched a land of green woods 
and beautiful flowers. The air was heavy with perfume. 
Bright-colored birds flew from tree to tree and sang sweet 
songs. It seemed like a paradise to the Spanish sailors. 

" Look ! look ! " exclaimed Fernando as they watched 
from the side of the ship, " what queer-looking creatures ! " 
There on the shore stood tall copper-colored natives. Long 
feathers were on their heads, and their naked bodies were 
painted in bright colors. They seemed frightened at the 
sight of the ships with their large white sails. 

" They are Indians," said Columbus, for he thought that 
he had reached India. 

Dressed in a cloak of scarlet and carrying the yellow 
banner of Spain, Columbus set foot on the New World. 
His men followed, clad in armor of shining steel ; they 
planted a cross on the sand. Kneeling before it the sailors 
sangs hymns of thanksgiving. 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 



23 



Drawing his sword, Columljus struck the ground with 
it. " In the name of their Majesties, King Ferdinand 
and Queen Isabella of Spain, I take this land. It shall be 
called ' San Salvador,' " 

Thus was America discovered. But Columbus did not 
know that it was a new world. 

The island of San Salvador lies off the continent of 
North America. Columbus thought it was an island north 
of China. 




u,R,i,. Ti^!iX-----'"X.^£'i'.''.'r!;".L... 




The First Voyage of Columbus 

Fernando and the other sailors explored the new country. 
Everywhere they found bright-colored flowers and fine fruit. 
The natives were very friendly and traded parrots and fruit 
for the sailors' trinkets. 

But they did not find the gold and silver and diamonds 
which Marco Polo had written about. 

" We must sail south," said Columbus, " and then we will 
come to China. There I shall present King Ferdinand's 



24 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



letter to the Emperor." For Columbus had a letter from his 
King to Kublai Khan, the Emperor of China. 

Sailing south, Columbus discovered the islands of Cuba 
and Haiti and called them the West Indies. 

A serious accident happened on Christmas morning. 
When the sailors were asleep the wind drove the Santa 




EXPLANATION 

^ . _ ♦Trade Route coutrolled by Venice 

Trade Route controlled by Genoa 

Middle Route 

DaGama's Route 



r^o 



(P^ 



\ Vn"'""" 
Q\ A'^^\ 'O^^ConstantTnopie^-.^j'' tSN'" 
•"--'1'.^^^ ^>pj l_^.Antiochlr:-V 

'^'■'^"Ji^^^Sea <^l ■J??-'^-f.'^"^ PERSIA 

L \J3agdad o 







Routes to the Orient 

Maria high upon a sand-bar off the coast of Haiti. The 
sailors worked hard, but the ship would not budge. The 
ship could not stand the force of the dashing waves and soon 
it was a total wreck. If the other ships perished like 
the Santa Maria they would not be able to return to 
Spain. 

Columbus decided to sail for home, for he wished to tell 
the people of this wonderful land in the West. Two small 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 25 

ships could not hold his men, so forty remained behind in 
huts built from the timber of the wrecked boat. 

Fernando returned with Columbus. On March 15th they 
arrived at Palos, and soon the news of the arrival of Colum- 
bus spread throughout the land. The King and Queen bade 
him come to their court at Barcelona. 

All at the court were eager to honor the hero. Soldiers 
in helmets with great battle-axes stood near the throne, 
where sat King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, beneath a 
rich canopy of gold. The Spanish people looked in wonder 
at the six Indians whom Columbus had brought with him. 
In their painted costumes and feathery headgear they 
looked very picturesque. In procession with them marched 
Fernando and the other sailors. Some carried beautiful 
live parrots and mackaws ; others carried stuffed birds and 
animals ; and some bore wonderful plants and fruit from 
the West Indies. Then came Columbus surrounded by 
the greatest nobles of Spain. Huzzas and loud cries of 
joy arose from the people as Columbus passed. 

When Columbus reached the throne, he saluted the King 
and Queen and told them he had found India. Ferdinand 
and Isabella were so pleased that they had Columbus sit 
down in their presence. This was an honor, indeed ! 

Columbus described the lands which lay to the west and 
the King and Queen thanked him for his wonderful work. 
As a reward they promised to fit out another fleet so that 
Columbus might make new discoveries. 

This new expedition was soon made ready and in Septem- 
ber 1493. Columbus again left Spain for the ^^'est Indies. 



26 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

He felt sure that he would find vast wealth. The fleet 
wliich he now commanded consisted of seventeen ships and 
fifteen hundred men who expected to become very rich. 

When the explorers reached Haiti, Columbus could find 
no trace of the forty men wdiom he had left there when 
the Santa Alaria was wrecked. Only the ruined fort re- 
mained. 

Three years passed by while Columbus explored the coun- 
try and visited the neighboring islands. In all this time 
he could not find the rich cities of China. After he had 
made settlements in Cuba and Jamaica, he returned to Spain 
and told Queen Isabella about the work he had done. She 
was so pleased with his work that she made him Governor 
of the West Indies. In 1498 Columbus sailed on his third 
expedition to the New World. On this voyage he sailed 
farthest south and discovered the coast of South America. 

When he reached Haiti, he found that the men were very 
quarrelsome and jealous of one another. Their quarrels 
and strife grew so great, that Columbus had a difficult time 
trying to make peace. During these troubles, Columbus 
was hated by some men who were his enemies. They car- 
ried stories to Spain, saying that Columbus was doing 
evil. The King listened to these reports and sent out officers 
who arrested Columbus and brought him to Spain in chains. 

When he was thrown into prison, Queen Isabella quickly 
came to his aid and freed him from his chains. These days 
were filled with sorrow and trouble for Columbus, who was 
now an old man. 

When Queen Isabella died, Columl)us lost his greatest 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA 



27 



friend. Columbus sailed again to the Xew World in 1502, 
but the expedition ended in failure. The men of Spain 
soon turned against him because they did not obtain the 
great stores of gold and silver which he had said they 
would find in the West Indies. On December 20th, 1506, 
Columbus died, disappointed and in want. He never knew 
that he had not found India. He proved that the world 
was round and discovered a greater country than India — 
a new continent which one day was to be " the land of tlie 
free and the home of the brave." 




COLUMBUS* 

Behind him lay the gray Azores, 

Behind, the Gates of Hercules; 
Before him not the ghost of shores. 

Before him only shoreless seas. 
The good mate said, " Now we must pray, 

For lo! the very stars are gone. 
Speak, admiral; what shall I say? " 

" \Miy say, ' Sail on ! Sail on ! and on ! ' 

" My men grow mutinous day by day ; 

My men grow ghastly wan and weak." 
The stout mate thought of home; a spray 
Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. 
" What shall I say, brave admiral, say. 

If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" 
" Why, you shall say at break of day, 
" Sail on ! sail on ! and on ! " 

They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow, 
Until at last the blanched mate said, 
" Why, now not even God would know 
Should I and all my mates fall dead. 

These very winds forget their way, 

For God from these dread seas is gone. 

•Copyright, 1897. by the Whitaker & Ray Co. 
28 



COLUMBUS > 29 

Now speak, brave admiral ; speak and say — " 
He said, " Sail on! sail on! and on! " 

They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate : 
" This mad sea shows its teeth to-night. 
He curls his lip, he lies in wait. 

With lifted teeth, as if to bite! 
Brave admiral, say but one good word; 

What shall we do w^ien hope is gone?" 
The words leapt as a leaping sword, 

" Sail on ! sail on ! and on ! " 

Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck, 

And peered through the darkness. Ah, that night 
Of all dark nights! And then a speck — 

A light! A light! A light! A light! 
It grew, a starlit flag, unfurled! 

It grew to be Time's burst of dawn. 
He gained a world ; he gave that world 

Its grandest lesson : " On ! and on ! " 

Joaquin Miller 



AMERIGO VESPUCCI 



I ;oi 



" I HAVE made four voyages to the new world," said an 

Italian adventurer to himself one day about 1502. " I can 

describe the customs of the people whom I saw and the 

country I visited. I shall write to my friends for they 

will be pleased to hear about my travels." 

So Amerigo Vespucci, for that was the Italian's name, 

wrote many letters to his friends. 

He was learned in map-drawing 

and geography and had sailed in 

1499 from Spain with Ojeda. 

The ships sailed north along the 

coast of South America past the 

Amazon River to a country which 

Ojeda called Venezuela or little 

Venice. The explorers gave that 

country the name of Venezuela 

or little Venice because they be- 
Amerigo Vespucci j^^j^ ^^^ j^^^j^^^ ^.-jj^^^g ^^^ j^^^^^^^ 

built over the water, with the rivers for its streets just as 
they are in Venice. While in this country, Amerigo saw 
many other strange sights. 

x^gain in 1501, he sailed south along the shores of South 

30 




AMERIGO VESPUCCI 



31 



America until he saw the Plata River. Amerigo made 
three other voyages ; and when he began to write, he told 
about these voyages and the wonderful things he had seen. 
He could write very well, and the stories that he told were 
very interesting. He wrote that he was sure the new coun- 
try was larger than Africa or Asia. 




Early Fifteenth Century Map of the World 

The people liked his letters so well that soon they were 
printed in many languages and people everywhere were 
reading of Amerigo's adventures. Many people heard 
about the wonderful voyage of Columbus, but Columbus 
was too busy to write stories about his travels and so the 
people learned more about Amerigo. 

So pleased were they all with the stories written by 



2,2 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Amerigo that when tlie learned men of Europe ch'ew a 
map of the world they said : " Let ns call the new coun- 
try America for Amerigo has found a new continent." 

The map which they drew was a very strange one and not 
at all like our maps of the world. The people thought that 
the West Indies w^ere a part of Asia. So when they drew 
their maps they located the new country near Asia. 

But soon the explorers brought back the news that the 
new land was much larger than the people at that time 
thought. The voyagers said that it was not really an island 
but a great wide land like Africa. Later on they discovered 
that there were two continents. So when Mercator, the 
famous map-maker, designed his new map of the world, 
he drew the picture of two continents and named them 
America after Amerigo. 

Thus this country was called America in honor of 
Amerigo Vespucci whose stories made the New World so 
well known to the people of Europe. 

OUR COUNTRY AND FLAG 

Hail, brightest banner, that floats on the gale! 
Flag of the country of Washington, hail! 
Red are thy stripes with the blood of the brave; 
Bright are thy stars as the sun on the wave; 
Wrapt in thy folds are the hopes of the free. 
Banner of Washington! blessings on thee! 

William E. Robinson 



THE VOYAGES OF JOHN AND SEBASTIAN 
CABOT 

1497 

The harbor of Bristol, England, was dotted with many 
ships of trade. Of all England, Bristol was at that time 
the busiest port. From Bristol, ships sailed on long cruises 
to the Mediterranean, to India, and far north to Norway. 
Returning, they brought home spices, silk, and various arti- 
cles to be sold in the busy markets of England. To this 
port, too, came the best mariners of all Europe, seeking to 
sail on the long, dangerous voyages. As you look at the 
sunburned faces of the sailors hastening up and down the 
streets of the town, you can see fair-haired sailors from 
Norway, blue-eyed English mariners, swarthy seamen from 
Venice and Genoa, and even dark-skinned Arabs dressed 
in turban and flowing gown. 

Up from the landing came two sailors, talking earnestly. 
The elder was of dark countenance, with black hair and a 
long sharp nose ; while the younger, a youth of twenty, 
closely resembled the other in feature and appearance. The 
language they spoke was Italian. 

" No, my son," spoke the elder sailor, " I am not sur- 
prised that Columbus has found India. When Christopher 
Columbus's brother, Bartholomew, was in England seeking 

33 



34 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



help for Christopher, I met him here in Bristol and he told 
me of his brother's plans. I knew that Columbus would 
succeed for I. too, have long believed the world to be round 
and that a passage to India can be found by sailing west. 



NEi^FOUN0LA({(5U 




The Discoveries of Cabot and Cartier 

When our own country, Italy, would not help me, I appealed 
to the King of England for ships but as yet I have received 
no word from him. Perhaps the news that Columbus has 
found India will rouse the King. If he helps us, Sebastian, 
you and I shall share in the glory of great discoveries." 



THE VOYAGES OF THE CABOTS 35 

The old mariner's words about the effect of the news of 
Cokimbtis's great discovery, were true and the next day he 
was summoned to the court of King Henry VH of England. 

" John Cabot," said the King, reading from a paper, 
" you have asked for England's help to sail on a voyage 
of discovery to India. The King hereby gives you per- 
mission to sail to the east, west, or north with five ships 
carrying the English flag to seek all the islands, countries, 
regions, or provinces of pagans in whatever part of the 
world. But in sailing do not sail to the south, lest you 
give offence to our gracious friend, the King of Spain." 

" I thank your kind Majesty," replied John Cabot as he 
knelt to receive his commission which the King handed 
him. " I shall strive to find a new route to China for your 
Majesty." 

When Cabot made preparations for the voyage, he found 
that, while the King promised five vessels, he could obtain 
only a single, small ship, named the " Matthew." It was 
a tiny boat in which to attempt to cross the Atlantic, but 
Cabot had won fame because of his great daring on voyages 
north to Norway and he was glad to get even one boat 
for his expedition. 

With his son, Sebastian, and a crew of eighteen, John 
Cabot sailed in May 1497, from Bristol. 

"If Columbus," said Cabot to his son, " reached India 
by sailing south, we shall try a northern or northwestern 
route which perhaps will bring us to the shores of China." 

With this idea in mind, Cabot sailed in a northwesterly 
direction from England. Severe storms swept the Atlantic 



36 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

and tossed his little craft about and many times the gales 
blew the " Matthew " from its course. After a voyage of 
two months Cabot and his little crew reached the coast of 
Labrador. 

"What a barren place!" exclaimed Sebastian to his 
father, " surely China cannot be so rocky and so wild. 
But look ! The fish ! Why, there are thousands swim- 
ming about the boat! " 

While the sailors were very much disappointed with the 
deserted shores of Labrador, they were amazed at the num- 
ber of fish which filled the waters. Journeying down the 
coast, they beheld great schools of cod, and mackerel, and 
herring. 

Cabot was grieved at finding no cities, and after landing 
on the coast and claiming the country in the name of King 
Henry VII of England, he set sail on the return voyage to 
England and arrived once more in the harbor of Bristol. 

When Cabot informed the King that he had discovered 
China and claimed it for England, Henry VII was greatly 
pleased. 

" You have made a wonderful journey," said the King. 
" and as a reward for your valor I here present you with 
the sum of fifty dollars. Henceforth, you shall be paid 
one hundred dollars a year as long as you live." 

Now, while this reward would seem very little to-day, it 
really was of considerable value, for during the days of 
Henry VII a golden dollar was worth much more than it 
is to-day. 

Cabot was very grateful to the King, and the next year 



THE VOYAGES OF THE CABOTS 



Z1 



he again set out with a fleet of five ships. This time he 
changed his course and pointed his ships toward the South- 
west, thinking in this way he would reach China. 

But though they came to the continent of North America, 
the Enghsh seamen found no flourishing towns nor wealthy 
cities. Still hoping to find them, they sailed slowly down 
the coast as far as Virginia. Anxiously the sailors gazed 



7^ 






lik \» )Jtt»' 












\iw^' 






,'*t^l 



Part of Sebastian Cabot's Map of 1544 

about. They were delighted with the beautiful trees and 
flowers and birds but disappointed not to find the teeming 
treasures of China. When, at length, some weeks had been 
spent in exploration, Cabot and his ships returned to Eng- 
land. 

The work of John Cabot was continued by his son 
Sebastian, who made many voyages to the New World but 
each time returned with no gold. Soon the people lost in- 
terest in the discovery made by the Cabots and for over a 
hundred years no voyages were made by English sailors to 



38 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

America. But many years later the work of John and 
Sebastian Cal)ot proved of great vahie to England. On 
account of their voyages, England in later times claimed 
that the land of North America belonged to the English 
nation because under its flag the Cabots had made their dis- 
coveries- 



GOD BLESS OUR NATIVE LAND 

God bless our native land! 
Firm may she ever stand, 
Through storm and night! 
When the wild tempests rave, 
Ruler of wind and wave. 
Do Thou our country save 
By Thy great might. 

For her our prayer shall rise 
To God above the skies : 
On Him we wait. 
Thou, who art ever nigh, 
Guarding with watchful eye, 
To Thee aloud we cry, 
God save the State, 

John Sullivan Dwight 



PONCE DE LEON 



1513 



"Ah! if I could but be young again! When I came 
to these shores with Columbus in 1493, I ^^^^ the power of 
youth in my limbs. Now I am getting stiff with old age." 

Thus' spoke the gray-haired warrior. The weight of 
fifty years rested upon him. He was the governor of the 
island of Porto Rico which lies in the West Indies. When 
sailing one day from Haiti, he had visited this island with 
its green-covered hills and rich valleys. When the Indians 
told him that he might find gold there, he resolved to stay. 
He was severe and cruel, and soon he had conquered the 
Indians and made himself governor of the island. This 
gray-haired warrior's name was Ponce de LecSn. 

He was sad now because he was so old. He wished to 
be young again and as he sat in his chair, he spoke his 
thoughts aloud : " Ah ! if I could only be young again ! " 

An old, wrinkled Indian servant, who was working nearby 
stopped when he heard Ponce de Leon's words. 

" Do you wish to be young again ? " asked the old Indian. 

"Ah!" answered the warrior. "I would give half my 
treasures to feel once more the fire of youth." 

" Perhaps I can help you." said the Indian servant. " My 
father told me, and his father told him, that afar off to the 

39 



40 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

North there is a magic fountain and from it flows a river 
wherein all who bathe are made young again." 

As the Indian spoke these words, the eyes of De Leon 
kindled with excitement. A flush of joy came upon his 
cheeks. 

" Will that fountain," he questioned anxiously, " will that 
fountain make me young once more? " 

" Yes," said the servant. " That is what my father told 
me years ago." 

Ponce de Leon rose from his chair. He was of large 
build and strong in every muscle. He closed his fist in de- 
termination and said : " I shall search until I find that 
spring. Then shall I be a youth once more." 

Busily De Leon and his men worked and soon an expedi- 
tion was made ready for the journey. All the sailors were 
as eager as their leader to find the Fountain of Youth. In 
1 5 13 De Leon sailed from Porto Rico in search of the magic 
waters that would bring back to his body his lost youth. 

The journey was to the North as the old Indian serv- 
ant had directed. Soon Ponce de Leon came to the Bahama 
Islands. 

" Can you tell me where I can find the Fountain of 
Youth ? " Ponce would always ask whenever the expedition 
stopped. 

Each time the natives would answer that it was not far 
away but they could not direct him to the place where the 
Fountain of Youth gave forth its wonderful waters. 

One day early in spring their ship sailed by the shores of 
a beautiful country. De Leon thought that the magic spring 



PONCE DE LEON 



41 



might be found there. On Easter Sunday morning in 
15 13 Ponce de Leon and his Spanish sailors landed near 
what is now the city of St. Augustine. Large palm trees 
swayed their fan-like branches in the breeze that was sweet 
with the perfume of many flowers. Crimson and yellow 
and deep red flowers mingled their colors w'ith the green of 
the everglades. Beautiful birds warbled sweet music in 
the trees from which hung hoary moss. Never had the 
sailors beheld such a beautiful country. 



•:3ti-">yr?« X£ic0r^fS'-3i^ 






\/ 



--■^^^^^^^ 



Landing in Florida 

When he saw this wonderful sight, De Leon turned to his 
men and said : " To-day is Pascua Florida and we have 
found a new island. This land wnth its flowers and blos- 
soms seems like our churches in Spain which at Pascua 
Florida are decked with flowers and green branches. So 
let us call this new land Florida." 

Pascua Florida is the Spanish nanie for Flowery Easter 
and thus it was that Florida received its name. 

Eagerly did he bathe in the waters which he hoped would 



42 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



bring back his youth but the rivers and springs could not 
take away his okl age. Vainly did he look for the Fountain 
of Youth. The waters were all the same; they could not 
bring back his youth. At last, disappointed, and still older 
and stiffer in his limbs, De Leon returned to Porto Rico. 




The Old City Gate, St. Augustine 

Ponce de Leon did not realize that he had discovered the 
mainland of North America. He thought Florida was an 
island. When the king of Spain, who was pleased with the 
discovery, made De Leon governor of Florida, Ponce re- 
solved to return and conquer the natives there who had 



PONCE DE LEON 43 

been unfriendly. In 1521 he set sail again for Florida. 
The Indians fiercely attacked the Spaniards, and in a battle 
Ponce de Leon was mortally wounded. When he fell, De 
Leon knew that his life was nearly over and at his command 
his men brought him back to his home in Porto Rico. The 
stern warrior grew weaker and weaker. In a few months, 
Ponce de Leon died. His search for the Fountain of 
Youth was over. 

Long years have passed since the days of De Leon, but 
the Fountain of Youth, like the pot of gold at the end of 
the rainbow, has not been found. 



A PSALM OF LIFE 
What the heart of the young man said to the Psalmist 

Tell me not in mournful numbers, 
Life is but an empty dream, — 

For the soul is dead that slumbers. 
And things are not what they seem. 

Life is real! Life is earnest! 
And the grave is not the goal; 
" Dust thou art, to dust returnest," 
Was not spoken of the soul. 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 
Is our destined end or way; 

But to act that each to-morrow 
Find us farther tlian to-day. 

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 

And our hearts, though stout and brave. 

Still, like muffled drums are beating 
Funeral marches to the grave. 

In the world's broad field of battle, 

In the bivouac of life. 
Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 

Be a hero in the strife! 
44 



A PSALM OF LIFE 45 

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant ! 

Let the dead Past bury its dead ! 
Act, — act in the Hving Present! 

Heart within, and God o'erhead ! 

Lives of great men all remind us 
We can make our lives sublime, 

And, departing, leave behind us 

Footprints on the sands of Time, — 

Footprints, that perhaps another, 

Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 

Seeing, shall take heart again. 

Let us then be up and doing, 

With a heart for any fate; 
Still achieving, still pursuing. 

Learn to labor and to wait. 

H. W. Longfellow 



BALBOA DISCOVERS THE PACIFIC 
1513 

A BAND of Spanish soldiers were struggling througli the 
thick forests of the Isthmus of Panama. Heavy branches 
of palm trees hung low in their paths, and vines and shrubs 
whicli were tw'ined together in dense foliage hindered them 
and tripped their feet. The heat was terrific as the tropical 
sun beat down upon them, and the bloodhounds straining 
at their leash panted and rolled their eyes about in search of 
water. The clothes of the soldiers were stained with mud 
and torn by the brambles of the swamps they had passed 
through. As the soldiers plodded on, the weight of the 
guns and provisions which they carried on their baoks 
seemed to grow heavier and heavier. 

"Oh! my back is almost broken," exclaimed one of the 
soldiers to his companion. " I can't stand this much 
longer." 

" Nor I either," said the other as he brushed his way 
through the bushes. " It seems to me a year since we left 
Darien and the Atlantic coast, while it is not quite a month 
since we started." 

" Yes, that is true," replied his friend, " but these past 
few weeks have been terrible ones. Why, last night I heard 
our leader, Balboa, say that in the last four days we have 

46 



BALBOA DISCOVERS THE PACIFIC 



47 



traveled only thirty miles. But let us cheer up. That big 
mountain in front of us is the last we must climb, for the 
Indian guides say that beyond it lies the great Western Sea, 
and to the South the land of gold and treasure." 

Just then the war whoop of Indians was heard. With 
terrible yells, the savages sent their arrows singing into the 




Vasco Nunez de Balboa 

Spanish troops. There was great confusion as here and 
there a soldier fell wounded. Bang! Bang! spoke out the 
guns of the Spaniards. The Indians, terrified by the strange 
noise of the guns, turned and fled. Rushing to the attack, 
the Spanish soldiers soon scattered the Indians and took 
possession of the village which the natives had deserted in 



48 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

their flight. The Spaniards were overjoyed when they 
found pieces of gold hidden in the houses of the village. 

In this Indian village the soldiers rested and that night 
Balboa, who, as governor of Darien had set out with this 
force to find the Western Sea, called his men together. 

" Fellow-soldiers," said Balboa, " between us and the 
vast sea which the Indians have told us about there lies this 
one peak. Early to-morrow I shall climb that mountain 
with a small number of men. The wounded and those who 
suffer from fatigue shall rest in this village until I com- 
mand them to follow." 

When he had finished speaking, he chose a small band of 
men and made preparations for the journey. At the first 
peep of dawn, September 26, 15 13, Balboa and his picked 
men began the ascent of the mountain. As they struggled 
up the mountain, Balboa went on ahead alone. \\'hen he 
came to the summit, he beheld a glorious scene. The moun- 
tain on which he stood sloped down to the silvery shore of 
a boundless sea. As far as his eye could reach — north, 
west, and south — stretched the waters of a peaceful ocean 
upon whose heaving bosom gleamed the bright rays of the 
sun. At his cry of joy his men came running to him. As 
they gazed in wonder at the beautiful sight, Balboa ex- 
claimed : " In the name of His Gracious Majesty, the 
King of Spain, I declare this ocean and all the lands washed 
by its waters to be his possessions." A large cross was 
erected to mark the place of discovery. 

Balboa then returned to the Indian village. The next 
day he gathered his whole force together, crossed the moun- 



BALBOA DISCOVERS THE PACIFIC 



49 



tain and soon reached the shore of the ocean. As his fol- 
lowers stood with their Indian guides on the beach, Balboa 
with drawn sword in one hand and a banner of Spain in the 
other, walked into the water. The sun gleamed on his 
polished coat of mail and made his red hair, which hung in 




Vasco Nunez de Balboa taking Possession of the Pacific Ocean 

ringlets on his shoulders, seem golden. After striking the 
water with his sword, he raised the dripping blade towards 
heaven and in a solemn voice declared : " I claim this sea 
and all its islands and coasts to be the possessions of 
his Majesty, the King of Spain." 

During the next five weeks Balboa explored the coast and 



50 THE PERIOD OE DISCO\^ERY 

found that the Indians possessed golden trinkets and pearls 
of great value. Although Balboa's soldiers collected a 
large amount of gold from the natives, they longed for the 
great rich cities which the Indians said were toward the 
south. 

In order to continue his voyage along the Pacific shore 
to the south, Balboa needed ships. He could not build them 
on the coast as he did not possess the necessary tools with 
which to construct them. So he returned to Darien and 
there he found a new governor who was jealous of Ball^oa's 
success. 

Balboa tried not to listen to the false reports spread al)out 
him for his whole mind was set upon the building of his 
ships. In the shipyard on the Atlantic coast he had two 
boats built. But in order to get them across the Isthmus 
he was compelled to take them apart and have the pieces 
carried across the mountains on the backs of his men. This 
was a very severe task and took a great deal of time and 
patience. But Balboa, who was a leader of great will and 
strength, determined to succeed. 

Finally the last piece of timber was carried across the 
Isthmus and the men were hammering the parts of the boat 
together. The two boats were almost completed when 
Balboa discovered that he needed m.ore pitch and iron to 
caulk and strengthen the vessels. 

" We cannot put to sea/' said Balboa, " until we get more 
pitch and iron. I shall return to Darien to get the iron and 
pitch and then we '11 continue our explorations toward the 



BALBOA DISCOVERS THE PACIFIC 51 

south." When Balboa reached Darien, a company of sol- 
diers met him and placed him under arrest. 

" ^^^^y do you arrest me? " exclaimed Balboa in surprise. 

" For treason." answered the captain of the guard. 
" The Governor orders your arrest." 

The governor of Darien and the men in power there were 
jealous of Balboa. In order to put him to death, they said 
that he was guilty of treason l^ecause he attempted to make 
a government of his own. Besides, they said, he had gone 
on an expedition without the consent of the governor of 
Darien. 

Although Balboa declared that he was innocent, his 
enemies condemned him to death. Thus in the midst of 
preparations for new discoveries Balboa died, the first white 
man to behold the Pacific Ocean. 

WHEN DAYS ARE O'ERBURDENED WITH 
TROUBLE 

When days are o'erburdened with trouble 

And life is o'erburdened with woe, 
When pain and unkindness seem double, 

'T is because we deserve it, you know; 
'Way back in the past we have planted 

Unkindness and hatred to grow; — 
We gather the seed that we sow without heed, 

For always we reap as we sow. 

Benjamin Keech 



FERDINAND DE SOTO 
1541 

In the palace of King Charles V of Spain, a great re- 
ception was taking place. Flags were flying, drums were 
beating in celebration of the return of Cabeza de Vaca. 
The great explorer, bringing many presents, entered the 
throne-room and bending his left knee in homage, saluted 
the King. 

" Most gracious Majesty," he said, " I have returned 
after eight years spent in exploring your new lands of 
Florida. To you I bring these presents as tokens of my 
homage." 

" Cabeza de Vaca, we all welcome you," replied King 
Charles. " But tell us, I pray you, about your journey." 

" Sire," said De Vaca, " my wanderings were many. I 
beheld the most wonderful flowers and trees and birds. 
Mighty rivers, too, did I see, with reptiles of great size ly- 
ing on the banks. But the richest land of all I could not 
find." 

" The richest land ? " asked the King. 

" Yes, your Majesty," the explorer replied. " a land richer 
by far than any ever found. The Indians of far-off 
Florida told me of a kingdom whose ruler was named * Fl 
Dorado ' or ' Gilded Man.' Every morning El Dorado re- 

52 



FERDINAND DE SOTO 



53 



ceives a golden bath in which he is covered with pure pow- 
dered gold. His land is full of untold riches; gold can be 
picked up in the streets and precious stones can be found 
everywhere. If I could only have reached that land, your 
Majesty would have become the richest ruler of all Europe." 
" I am sure the fault is not vours," said the King. " But 




Lahcza (U 



Ic \" 



the March 



Spain is in great need of money to pay her armies which 
are fighting the Moors. It would be a great deed if some 
Spanish knight were to win this wealth for us." 

From among the group of nobles who stood near the 
throne, there stepped a broad-shouldered knight. He was 
dressed in a gorgeous doublet of silk, and the jewels that 
he wore were of great value. 



54 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Bowing low to the King he said: " Your Alajesty, per- 
haps I can find the ' Gilded Man ' Cabeza de Vaca speaks 
about. Let me take up the search and I shall bring his 
wealth to Spain." 

" You ? Why, Ferdinand de Soto you surprise us," said 
King Charles. " You are our gayest knight. Surely you 
do not wish to exchange your life of ease, for the hardships 
of the New World?" 

" Yes, my King," said De Soto, " I do wish to go forth 
to the wilds of Florida. I love the pleasures of your court, 
but first of all I am a soldier and I long for days of action. 
Rerhember, it was in 15 19 that I sailed for Haiti and there 
joined the army which landed in Nicaragua. In conquer- 
ing that country I fought with all my strength and soon I 
was made commander of the troops. Then I went with 
Pizarro to Peru and helped him in his conquest of the Incas. 
When the fighting was over I returned to Spain with great 
wealth. But now^ with all my wealth and gay life I feel 
the call to arms. My love of adventure bids me try to 
find this golden kingdom. With your permission, most 
gracious King, I shall fit out a great expedition at my own 
expense and one-fifth of all the wealth that I find I shall 
pour into your treasury." 

" You are a brave knight, De Soto," replied the King. 
" I grant your request, and in return I now appoint you 
Governor of Cuba and of all Florida. May success attend 
you ! " 

The news of De Soto's promise soon spread. Ferdinand 
de Soto was known far and wide as a brave e^eneral and a 



FERDINAND DE SOTO 55 

brilliant leader. When he began to prepare for the expedi- 
tion, many adventurers flocked to his standard. They were 
sure that De Soto would lead them to great wealth. Nine 
large vessels were equipped, having on board almost three 
hundred horses, a drove of hogs, provisions, and many fierce 
bloodhounds. The number of nobles, heavy armed sol- 
diers, and servants amounted to six hundred men. So con- 
fident were all of returning with great wealth, that they 
sang and danced and made merry. To the tinkling of music 
and amid the sounds of laughter and singing, the great ex- 
pedition set sail for Cuba. 

For a whole year, De Soto and his men rested in Cuba 
spending their time in idleness and pleasure. But in the 
early spring De Soto and his expedition headed west and 
landed on the banks of Florida. The days of pleasure were 
now over and the great search for El Dorado was begun. 

But on their long, weary marches, the Spaniards did not 
discover any gold nor any kingdom of wonderful treasures. 
Dressed in their heavy armor, they had to tramp through 
the thick woods and great swamps of Florida. The mos- 
quitoes attacked them and caused great pain, while the damp 
air made many sick with malaria. Worst of all the Indians 
hated De Soto and his men and many times a Spanish sol- 
dier would fall dead on the marshy ground, pierced by the 
arrow of some unseen Indian. 

Despite these terrible hardships, De Soto continued his 
march north through Florida into what is now Georgia. 
After beholding the Savannah River and failing to find any 
riches in that quarter, the Spaniards turned their footsteps 



56 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



toward the Southwest. The journey through Georgia into 
Alabama was a weary one. The men were tired out, their 
strength was ahnost gone; most of their horses had died 
and the hope of finding any treasure had left many of the 
soldiers. Two years passed by and instead of treasures only 




Explorations of Ponce de Leon. De Soto, and Coronado 

wounds and sickness and death had marked their wander- 
ings. 

De Soto and his soldiers were very cruel in their treat- 
ment of the Indians. They made the natives their beasts 
of burden and inflicted dreadful punishments for the slight- 
est disobedience. As a result, the Indians sent word among 
their tribes that the invaders were coming, and at every step 
the Spaniards were attacked. The Seminoles hindered them 



FERDINAND DE SOTO 57 

in their journey through Florida, while in Alabama the 
Choctaws attempted to stop De Soto. When the Spanish 
force tried to enter the town of Manila which belonged to 
the Choctaw chief, Tuscaloosa, a fierce fight took place and 
many Spaniards were killed and wounded. 

From Alabama, De Soto crossed into the present state of 
Mississippi and there settled down for the winter in a de- 
serted village of the Chickasaw tribe. Here one night in 
the middle of January, the Chickasaws suddenly attacked 
the Spaniards. When De Soto and the soldiers awoke in 
alarm from sleep, they beheld their houses wrapt in flames 
which were started by the fire-tipped arrows of the natives. 
In the smoke and confusion the Indians were driven off 
after a desperate fight. Sadly the soldiers returned to their 
camp. With heavy hearts, they found that forty men and 
fifty horses had been killed. 

During the rest of that winter, De Soto's force suffered 
many hardships. Their houses and provisions had been 
burned in the fight with the Indians, and their clothes de- 
stroyed. No longer were they the gay princes and well- 
dressed warriors. Now their hair was shaggy and un- 
kempt, and rude clothing made from skins covered their 
bodies. The soldiers wished to return to Cuba; but their 
brave leader, who was a very stern commander, refused to 
face about and ordered all to continue in the search for El 
Dorado. 

So, w^hen the spring of 1541 came, De Soto pushed on 
through the wild country. One day as he marched through 
the forest he beheld through the trees the bright gleam of a 



58 THE PERIOD OE DISCOVERY 

river. Larger and larger it grew as he approached until its 
broad expanse stretched out he fore him. 

The Spanish leader stood on the river's hank but his eyes 
were fixed in a far off gaze upon the opposite side. 

" This is the river," said De Soto to his soldiers, " which 
the Indians called ' Father of \\'aters.' Perhaps on the 
other side we will find El Dorado and his riches." 

Thus was De Soto the first white man to hehold the 
mighty Mississippi, but his thoughts were not about the 
great river. Even at the sight of that glorious stream, he 
still thought of his search for gold. 

De Soto and his soldiers crossed the Mississippi in rough 
boats made from the trees which grew on its bank and be- 
gan their march through Arkansas. Vainly they sought for 
the cities of gold which would make them rich, but they 
found only endless tracts of forest and plain. At last, 
when their provisions gave out, they turned their steps and 
marching through Arkansas and Louisiana, they came again 
to the Mississippi. 

As they reached that great river, a mortal illness came 
upon De Soto and the brave leader knew that never again 
would he behold his Spanish home or his kinsfolk. Draw- 
ing his men about him as he lay weakened with fever, he 
appointed a leader and bade his men farewell. There in 
that great wilderness on the banks of the mighty Mississippi 
which he had discovered, De Soto died. 

Fearing, if they were to let the Indians know of the death 
of their leader, the savages would overwhelm them, the 
Spaniards resolved to bury their dead commander secretly. 



FERDINAND DE SOTO 59 

They carved out a hollow trunk for his coffin and in it they 
placed De Soto's body. As the stars overhead kept their 
midnight watch, the Spanish soldiers paddled from the shore 
and slowly lowered their dead leader into the river's depths 
and made the stream his grave. 

Love of gold and adventure led De Soto to make a weary 
march across many miles of unknown land with dangers on 
all sides. At its end he found no El Dorado nor fabled 
treasure, and he died thinking his attempt was a failure. 
But in discovering the Mississippi, De Soto performed a far 
greater work and made the river a monument to his name. 

After their leader's death, De Soto's men floated down 
the Mississippi and after many trials and great hardships 
were greeted in w^elcome by their countrymen in the Spanish 
colony in Mexico, Four years had passed since the brilliant 
expedition left Spain to find vast wealth. Of the great 
number who set out, only a few weary soldiers returned. 
Out of seeming failure great good often comes. So it was 
that out of De Soto's failure to find riches came the dis- 
covery of the Mississippi and a better knowledge of the land 
from which has been formed seven great states of our 
Union. 



LOVE OF COUNTRY. 

Breathes there the man with soul so dead 

Who never to himself hath said, 
This is my own, my native land ! " 

Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned, 
As home his footsteps he hath turned 

From wandering on a foreign strand? 

If such there breathe, go, mark him well! 

For him no minstrel raptures swell ; 
High though his titles, proud his name. 

Boundless his wealth as wish can claim, — 
Despite those titles, power, and pelf, 

The wretch, concentered all in self, 
Living, shall forfeit fair renown, 

And, doubly dying, shall go down 
To the vile dust from whence he sprung, 

Unwept, unhonored, and unsung. 

Sir IV alter Scott 



60 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 
1519 

In the ancient capitol of Mexico, all was at peace. The 
city of the Aztecs was built on the waters of a salty lake 
and like olden Venice, many of its streets were waterways 
and canals. Along these canals, gayly-decked boats glided 
up and down, laden with flowers and fruit, while the boat- 
men sang the low, sad songs of the Aztecs. 

No longer did the people fear, but worked at their daily 
tasks in peace. A few days before, messengers had brought 
the news that white- faced strangers had landed on the 
coast. Their ships had large white sails and the strangers 
carried with them lightning and thunder. When this report 
was told, there was great fear, for the people of the city 
thought that the strangers were gods who had come to de- 
stroy them. Then later came other panting messengers who 
brought the glad tidings that the white-faced strangers had 
sailed away from the coast. 

On a western hill of the capital stood the royal palace of 
Montezuma, the Emperor of Mexico. It was a wonderful 
building of shining onyx and jasper which gleamed in the 
sunlight. Beautiful flowers and shrubs grew on all sides 
about it, while in the large gardens were many birds brought 
from every part of the Empire. So many were there — 

61 



62 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

scarlet cardinals, parrots, humming birds, and golden pheas- 
ants — that three hundred servants were needed to attend 
to them. Besides these songsters and birds of plumage, 
tliere were birds of prey — hawks, vultures, and bald eagles 
from the far-off mountain-tops. In another part of the 
gardens, deep basins could be seen where manv different 
kinds of fish swam about, while in another direction could 
be heard the cries of caged beasts which had been captured 
in the woods and jungles of Mexico. 

^^'ithin the magnificent palace, the walls were hung with 
rich curtains. Bronze and golden statues stood about while 
the cedar wood of the rafters sent a sweet perfume through 
the air. 

In a large hall of the palace, Montezuma was seated be- 
fore a low table as the great nobles of his country waited 
upon him with food. The dishes were made of the finest 
Mexican workmanship yet Montezuma never used the same 
dishes a second time, but gave them away to his servants. 
After the nobles had laid before their Emperor the meats 
and fish, pretty maidens brought in sweet-tasting dishes of 
pastry wdiich Montezuma enjoyed while drinking his choco- 
late. Then came a servant carrying water in a silver basin 
in which Montezuma washed his fingers. 

Pipes were now brought and while the Emperor smoked 
fragrant tobacco, his jester and jugglers played tricks for 
his amusement. Montezuma was pleased with their antics 
but soon he grew sleepy. Just as his eyes closed, a mes- 
senger clad in rough mantle and with bare feet entered 
suddenly. 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 



63 



ta^ 



"A 



a 



I 



t? 




Montezuma and Cortez 



64 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

" Speak," said the Emperor, very angry at being disturbed. 

Bowing low, the messenger began to speak. " The 
white faced strangers have come again. Two hundred 
miles away at Vera Cruz, they have landed. Their leader 
desires to march on to your great city." 

" Alas ! Alas ! " said the Emperor in alarm. " They 
must not come. Tell them the way is dangerous. Bring 
them presents, but tell them Montezuma wishes them to 
depart. Go ! I will speak with my wise men." 

Bowing again, the messenger left. Soon messengers, 
carrying gifts, were hurrying to the camp of the Spaniards 
at Vera Cruz. They brought with them a helmet filled with 
gold, two large discs of gold, and great quantities of cloth 
and feathers woven in beautiful designs. 

Straight across the country of Mexico ran the messengers. 
The Aztecs had no horses, but their messengers were fleet 
of foot ; and when one had run a certain distance he stopped, 
and another continued the journey, just as boys to-day run 
their relay-races. So swiftly could the messengers run, that 
fish swimming in the Atlantic on one day could be caught 
and served the next day before Montezuma who was over 
two hundred miles away ! 

At last the messenger came to the Spanish camp. 
Straightway he went to the tent of the commander, Cortez. 
He was a noble-looking soldier with kind eyes, yet stern and 
proud in his bearing. 

" I bring you gifts," said the messengers. " Our gra- 
cious Emperor desires you to receive them and depart to your 
own country. The way to the city is dangerous." 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 65 

" Give my thanks to your King," replied Cortez, as he 
took the gifts. " In return, I shall give you gifts to carry 
to your Emperor." 

The Spanish general gave the messenger presents that 
were of no great value, and some trinkets of glass to carry 
to Montezuma. 

When the Spaniards saw the gold, their eyes opened in 
wonder. They had set out for treasure and never before 
had they beheld so much at one time. All thoughts of re- 
turning home left them, and Cortez and his men resolved to 
set out for the Capital of Mexico. Such an expedition 
through three hundred miles of unknown country was a 
dangerous one. So that no one could retreat, Cortez sank 
all his ships off the Atlantic coast. With about seven hun- 
dred soldiers, fourteen small cannon, and sixteen horses, 
Cortez left Vera Cruz and began the long march to Mexico. 

As the troops marched through the country, the natives 
knelt in worship, because they thought the Spaniards were 
descendants of the sun-god who had left Mexico in the 
early ages. When they saw the men riding the cavalry 
horses, the Aztecs fled in terror. They had never beheld 
a horse before, and they thought rider and horse formed 
some terrible, strange animal. 

At times the natives formed in battle-line in vast num- 
bers to attack the marching soldiers, but the noise and fire 
of the Spanish guns and cannon terrified them and sent them 
fleeing in every direction. \Mien some of the chiefs saw 
how powerful were the Spaniards, they joined the army of 
Cortez and marched with the Spanish troops to Mexico, 



66 



THE PERIOD OE DISCOVERY 



So mail}' natives wished to help the Spaniards in their con- 
quests that the number of soldiers increased to sixteen hun- 
dred men. 

After many battles in which Cortcz was always victorious, 
the Spanish army arri\ed at the walls of Mexico, November 
S, 15 19. Montezuma feared to attack them but met the 
troops at the gates of the city. He welcomed Cortez and, 




Cortez Marching to Mexico 

conducting him to his palace, gave him a large building in 
which the troops might live. 

The Spanish soldiers marveled at the size of the city. 
Its houses were made of cement with flat roofs where 
flowers were planted. A great street, or causeway, led 
through the city, while the canals were crossed by many 
bridges which could be raised or lowered. 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 67 

They found that the Aztecs worked in copper and tin 
but did not reahze the use of iron. The natives were 
dressed in bright garments of cotton with capes of feathers. 
They also wore ornaments of gold and silver. 

In the center of the city were the twenty great temples. 
Here the Aztecs worshiped idols of bronze and stone. 
The temples were rich in gold and silver, and on the top 
of the highest there was a large stone upon which human 
beings were killed as sacrifices to the gods. When Cortez 
heard of this cruel practice, he resolved to prevent the 
Aztecs from killing any more people. 

Cortez and his little army were all alone in the great city. 
They had no place to which to retreat if they were attacked 
and Cortez realized that if the natives engaged his men in 
battle, his small force would be overcome by their great 
numbers. So he resolved to do a daring thing in order to 
prevent any danger. He would make jMontezuma a prisoner 
in his own city ! 

In a province outside of the city, a Spanish soldier had 
been killed in a quarrel. Cortez made out that he was very 
angry, and with an armed guard he went to the palace of 
Montezuma. 

" Gracious Emperor," said Cortez. " one of my Spanish 
soldiers has been killed by your subjects. I demand the 
men who killed him. Besides, in order that no one else 
be killed, I request that you surrender yourself to our 
forces." 

Cortez knew that when the Emperor was his prisoner, 
the Aztecs would not dare to attack the Spanish soldiers. 



68 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

When Montezuma heard the words of Cortez, his face 
became white as death. 

" When was such a thing ever heard of," exclaimed 
Montezuma, " as that a great prince Hke myself should vol- 
untarily leave his own palace to become the prisoner of 
strangers ? " 

But Cortez was very firm and demanded the Emperor as 
a prisoner. Montezuma pleaded for his liberty. " I will 
give my son and two daughters. I am the Emperor. I 
cannot go." 

The Spanish general refused his request, and for two 
hours the ruler of the Mexicans pleaded. At last a 
Spanish nobleman exclaimed : " \Miy do we waste words 
on this barbarian? We have gone too far to withdraw 
now. Let us seize him and if he resist, plunge our swords 
into his body." 

Alarmed at these words, the unhappy Emperor looked 
about in vain for sympathy. A\'hen he saw the soldiers of 
Cortez, his courage failed him. In a voice that was sad 
and weak, he said, " I will go." Had he been brave, he 
would have called his servants about him and died fighting 
rather than surrender. But his spirit was weak, and with 
bowed head he left the palace of his forefathers, never to 
return. 

With Montezuma in his power, Cortez grew bolder. His 
men sought for treasure everywhere even in the sacred 
temples. The actions of the soldiers angered the Aztecs, 
and soon mutterings of discontent were heard throughout 
the city. 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 69 

In 1520, a force of Spaniards sent by the Governor of 
Cuba, landed at Vera Crnz to capture Cortez and make him 
a prisoner. With a small force, Cortez hastened from the 
capital to Vera Cruz in order to conquer his Spanish enemies. 
When he departed he left part of his army in Mexico in the 
command of Alvarado. 

But Alvarado could not control his men, and soon the 
soldiers and natives were quarreling. The Aztecs hated 
the cruel and greedy Spaniards who were robbing their 
homes and their temples. They hated their Emperor, too, 
because he was a friend of the Spaniards. 

Five months passed, when one day the soldiers of Al- 
varado cruelly killed many Mexicans in a quarrel. With 
terrible fury the Mexicans roused themselves to action, and 
when Cortez returned after making peace with the Spanish 
force from Cuba, he found that a fierce war had begun. 

In great numbers the natives attacked the Spanish quar- 
ters. Hoping to quiet his people, Montezuma addressed 
them in the public square. Their hatred was intense, and 
they refused to follow his advice. When he stopped talk- 
ing, the natives hurled stones at their Emperor whom they 
once had loved. Montezuma was struck down and carried 
away wounded. His proud spirit was broken by shame, and 
tears of sorrow ran down his cheeks. He grew weaker and 
weaker and at last died dishonored by his own people and 
a prisoner in the hands of strangers. 

The Spanish soldiers could no longer resist the attack 
of the Aztecs and on the night of July ist, 1520, Cortez 
and his soldiers attempted to steal out of Mexico. It wac 



yo 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



midnight, and a drizzling rain fell from the dark heavens. 
Noiselessly, the Spaniards marched along the causeway 
which led out of the city. Suddenly their steps were heard 




Cortcz in Armor 



by an Aztec sentinel. Boom-boom ! Boom-boom ! Across 
the dead silence of the night came the booming of the war- 
drum, calling the natives to battle. Before the Spanish 
troops had crossed the first bridge, the Aztecs were upon 



THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO 71 

them. The natives fought with insane fury as they flung 
themselves upon the Spaniards. Soon the air was filled 
with the cries and groans of the wounded and dying. The 
small force of the Spaniards went down before the vast 
number of the Aztecs ; but, fighting for their very lives, they 
battled their way outside the walls of the city. 

When the morning broke, Cortez collected his defeated 
troops and as he beheld their thinned and broken ranks his 
eyes were filled with tears. Four hundred and fifty men 
had been killed, most of the horses slain, and his baggage 
and provisions destroyed. So terrible had been the battle 
that the Spaniards called that night "The Sorrowful 
Night." 

But Cortez had an iron will and great courage. He rested 
outside the city and w^aited for more troops from Cuba. 
Many tribes that had been at war with the Aztecs flocked 
to his standard. When his army numbered a hundred thou- 
sand natives and eleven hundred Spanish soldiers, Cortez 
began an attack on the city. For three months the brave 
Aztecs defended Mexico; but when their walls were bat- 
tered down bv the cannon and many had been killed, the 
Aztec chief surrendered. In triumph, Cortez again entered 
the city in August 1521. 

For many years Cortez ruled as the Emperor of Mexico. 
He established a new government and taught the natives the 
use of iron. He also helped them develop the mines and 
prevented any more sacrifices of human beings. Under his 
rule much wealth was brought to Spain which continued to 
own Mexico until 1821. 



^2 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

In 1540 Cortez returned to Spain. His enemies had 
told the King- that Cortez was not a loyal subject. Although 
Cortez had made the King- very rich b}' the conquest of 
Mexico, the conqueror was coldly received. Because of 
this ungrateful treatment, Cortez left the court and went 
on no more expeditions. In conquering Mexico, Cortez 
won for himself a brilliant record as a leader and general. 
His name will forever be spoken with the name of ^lexico. 



THE AMERICAN FLAG 

When Freedom, from her mountain height, 

Unfurled her standard to the air, 

She tore the azure robe of night. 

And set the stars of glory there. 

She mingled with its gorgeous dyes 

The milky baldric of the skies. 

And striped its pure, celestial white 

With streakings of the morning light : 

Then, from his mansion in the sun, 

She called her eagle-bearer down. 

And gave into his mighty hand 

The symbol of her chosen land. 

Joseph Rodman Drake 



THE CONQUEST OF PERU 
1532 

"A ship! a ship!" went up the cry from the starving 
Spanish sailors on the shores of the island of Gallo, which 
lies off the northwestern coast of South x\merica. 

" We are saved! " they shouted with joy. " Here comes 
our ship from Panama l^ringing new supplies." 

For many weeks they had waited for the coming of their 
ship. In their search for the famous cities of gold, they 
had landed on the island of Gallo, and had sent back their 
boat to Panama for more supplies. Then while they waited, 
the tropical rains began. All day long, for many dreary 
days, the rain fell and a large number of the men grew sick 
and died from fever. Their food was soon gone and all 
they could find to eat was the berries of the woods and the 
shell-fish on the shore. Weak and trembling from hunger, 
the starving sailors waited and watched for the vessel that 
should bring them help and food. Their stout-hearted 
leader, Pizarro, tried to encourage them by telling of the 
vast wealth they would find ; but many were discouraged 
and longed to return to the Spanish settlements at Panama 
whence they had come. But now at last their trials were 
over. Their ship had returned. 

When the small boats from the ship had landed, Pizarro 

72, 



74 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

and his men were surprised to find a stranger in command 
of the vessel. AMien it had sailed away, Pizarro's com- 
panion, Almagro, was captain. 

With a stem air, the captain of the vessel approached 
Pizarro. *' I am sent,'' he said, " by the governor of 
Panama to arrest you, Pizarro. He is tired of this wild- 
goose chase. Three times you have set out for the rich 
cities of the South and each time you have failed. He 
orders you and all your men to return to Panama.", 

Many of Pizarro's men were glad to hear this for they 
were disappointed and wished to return home. But Pizarro 
was a rough warrior who would never give up the search. 
Drawing his sword, he marked a line running east and west 
on the shore. His face was set and stern. Turning to 
his men, he spoke in a tone that thrilled them. " To the 
south," he said, pointing with his sword, " there is danger 
and glory. To the north lie ease and safety. Let each 
man choose for himself. I go south ! " 

He stepped across the line. A murmur passed through 
the men standing together, and sixteen brave and resolute 
soldiers strode across the line and joined their leader. The 
others refused to continue the perilous journey and returned 
in the ship to Panama. 

When the vessel had sailed away, Pizarro and his small 
force left the island of Gallo on a raft which they had 
made, and paddled to the island of Gorgona which lies 
north of Gallo. Here they decided to wait, hoping that the 
governor might change his mind and send them a new ship 
with more men and supplies. Shell-fish were their only food 



THE COxNQUEST OF PERU 75 

except when some sailor was lucky enough to shoot a pass- 
ing bird. They had waited seven long months when at last 
another ship arrived. 

Pizarro and his men went on board and sailed along the 
coast. In the country called Peru they landed and dis- 
covered large cities where gold and silver abounded. The 
golden kingdom was found at last! The Spanish sailors 
were surprised to see so much wealth and civilization. In 
the cities they found great temples which were built of huge 
stones where precious gold and silver ornaments hung on the 
walls. The Peruvians were a short, brown-skinned people 
with black hair. They labored in the fields raising corn, 
potatoes, and fruits, or worked in the cities w^eaving cloth 
or making pottery and ornaments of gold, silver, and bronze. 

The people wore garments of the finest weaving made 
from the wool of a native animal called the alpaca. They 
had no horses but used the cjueer-looking llamas to carry 
burdens. Their emperor was called the Inca ; he dAvelt in 
the capital, Cuzco, a great city of three thousand inhabitants. 
This was the " Holy City " and here was the enormous 
Temple of the Sun which gleamed with gold and silver. 
The buildings were made of huge stones which thousands 
of natives had dragged from the mountains with ropes. 
One stone was so heavy that twenty thousand natives could 
not drag it to its place and they called it the " Tired Stone " 
because, they said, it became tired and would not go on any 
further. 

When Pizarro saw the great wealth of Peru, he hastened 
to return to Spain. There he obtained help from Charles V, 



76 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

and with Almagro and about two hundred men and fifty 
horses he set sail again for Peru. This time he meant to 
conquer the people of Peru and seize their wealth. 

In the spring of 1532, Pizarro landed in Peru. A great 
war had been raging among the Peruvians; and just when 
the Spaniards landed on the coast, Atahualpa, a strong chief- 
tain, won a great victory. As his army proclaimed him 
the emperor of all Peru and placed on his head a crimson 
cap that made him the Inca, a messenger hurried through 
the crowded ranks. 

" I bring you news," the messenger said. " Strangers 
have landed on our coast. They carry thunderbolts in their 
hands and ride great beasts that are stronger than our 
llamas." 

Atahualpa and his army were greatly surprised. " They 
must be gods," the Inca replied. " Let my brave general, 
Titu, depart and visit the strangers and tell them of my 
friendship." 

At the command of the Emperor, Titu journeyed to meet 
the Spaniards. When he beheld them carrying their guns 
and riding their horses, he bowed low in reverence, for he 
thought that the Spanish soldiers were gods of the 
sky. 

Pizarro received Titu in kindly manner and resolved to 
march up the mountains to the camp of the Inca. The way 
was a long one and led from the coast up into the heart of 
the Andes. But this journey was not as difficult as it migbt 
seem, for the Peruvians had built wonderful roads which 
ran through the length of their country. They were about 



THE CONQUEST OF PERU 77 

twenty-five feet wide and very level. As the soldiers 
marched along they passed over deep valleys and high moun- 
tains, through gorges cut in the rocks, along the edge of 
snow-capped ranges and by the rushing waters of the moun- 
tain rivers. The people of Peru did not build bridges like 
ours but the deep valleys were crossed by swaying bridges 
made of ropes on which boards were placed for the foot- 
way. As the heavy soldiers stepped across, the slender 
bridges would swing and sway in the wind, while miles be- 
low stretched the silvery band of a river. 

After the march up the mountains, Pizarro entered the 
city of Caxamarca where the Inca had his camp. The 
houses of the city were made of brick with roofs of straw, 
or of rough stones placed upon each other without cement. 
On a hill overlooking the town the Spanish soldiers beheld 
the great army of the Inca. The native soldiers wore 
doublets of cotton and carried either leather shields and 
lances or clubs. 

When Pizarro beheld the great number of watch-fires 
gleaming in the night, he became aware that the Inca's army 
nimibered many thousands of soldiers while the Spanish 
troops were few. But the crafty Spanish leader knew that 
the natives feared him because they thought he was a god. 
This knowledge gave him courage so he resolved to capture 
their emperor and then rob them of their gold and silver 
treasures. 

A meeting between the Inca and the Spaniards was ar- 
ranged to take place next day. When day broke, the Inca 
entered the square of the city with a large guard. He ex- 



78 THE PERIOD OE DISCO\^ERY 

pected to meet Pizarro and his men, but no Spaniard could 
be seen anywhere. 

Finally a Spanish priest was seen approach inj^^. After 
reading a long message he saluted the Inca and handed him 
a Bible. The Inca looked at it for a moment and then threw 
it on the ground. At that instant the war-cry " Santiago! " 
rang out, and from concealed places the Spanish soldiers 
rushed upon the surprised natives. The guns of the Span- 
iards terrified the Peruvians and they fled headlong before 
the rush of the horses. A terrible scene follow'ed. The 
Inca was taken prisoner, and so successful was the attack 
that his army of fifty thousand men was put to flight by 
Pizarro and his two hundred men. 

The natives were now sure that the Spaniards were gods 
and in fear they did not attempt to rescue their ruler. But 
Atahualpa, the Inca, begged to be freed. Appealing to 
Pizarro, he pleaded to be released. His prison was a room 
twenty-two feet long and seventeen feet wide. IMaking a 
mark on the wall as high as he could reach, the Inca ex- 
claimed: "I will fill this room as high as that mark with 
gold if you will only set me free." 

Pizarro opened his eyes in wonder. " You shall be free, 
Atahualpa, if you do as you promise. But this treasure 
must be collected in two months." 

The Inca agreed and soon gold came pouring in from the 
temples and homes of the loyal natives. It took a long time 
to collect so great a treasure ; in the meantime, Pizarro with 
small forces of twenty or thirty men would ride miles 
through the country, destroying the images and seizing the 



THE CONQUEST OF PERU 79 

gold and silver ornaments from the temples of the Incas. 
But the people of Peru, though they saw their churches in- 
vaded and their treasures stolen, did nothing to hinder the 
Spaniards, for they thought the soldiers must be gods to be 
able to destroy the wooden and clay idols of the Inca's gods. 

When the treasure was collected, the gold in the room of 
Atahualpa amounted to over fifteen million dollars. The 
greedy Spaniards seized this and divided it amongst them- 
selves. But when Atahualpa asked for his freedom, Pizarro 
refused his request. 

" I have paid my ransom," said the Inca ; " you have re- 
ceived the gold. Now let me go in peace." 

" You cannot go," answered the cruel Pizarro. " You 
have plotted to wage war against us. Now you must die." 

In vain did the Inca plead with the hard-hearted Span- 
iards. They had obtained his gold and now they wanted 
his life. Into the public square the soldiers led the weep- 
ing Inca to his death. As the evening sun was setting, the 
proud Inca was hanged by the cruel, wicked Spaniards. 

Pizarro now gained control over the natives who were 
terrified at the death of their emperor. Leaving the city, 
he marched south through Peru to the capital, Cuzco. On 
the way, all the temples and public buildings were plundered 
and stripped of their ornaments. 

The stones of the Inca's wealth brought many Spaniards 
to Peru, and soon a new city named Lima sprang up on the 
Pacific coast. The Spaniards continued to explore the vast 
country but the natives watched them closely. When they 
found in 1533 that the Spanish soldiers were not gods, they 



8o THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

resolved to wage war against them and win back their land 
from the cruel invaders. 

From far and near, tlie natives secretly gathered a large 
army. With terrific force and suddenness the Peruvians 
burst upon the city of Cuzco. ^^'ith only their leather 
shields and their clubs the natives fought at a terrible dis- 
advantage, yet so fierce was their attack that for six months 
the Spaniards were held prisoners in the city. But the 
native army finally weakened before the deadly shots of the 
Spanish cannon and in a great battle thousands of the Peru- 
vians were slain. This defeat broke the power of the Incas 
and ended their rule forever. 

For many years Pizarro governed Peru. He imported 
seeds and vegetables from Europe, worked the gold and 
silver mines, and subdued the different tribes until the Span- 
ish rule w'as extended throughout the land of the Incas. 

But Pizarro was a rude and severe commander. He was 
an ignorant soldier who was never generous or kind, and 
so he made many bitter enemies. So intensely was he 
hated, that in 1541 a party of men whom he had ill treated 
burst in upon him while he was at dinner. He was an old 
man now but still very strong. Swinging his sword he laid 
low several of the assassins. But the others closed in upon 
him and a sword w'as plunged into his body. 

Thus died Pizarro, a cruel but brave soldier who swept a 
whole nation before him by his great courage, and won for 
Spain the mighty empire of the Incas. 



MAGELLAN AND THE VOYAGE OF THE 
" VICTORIA " 

1519 

In the dark, slanting shadows of the wharf, two men, 
armed with long- daggers, crouched in waiting. The night 
air was still, except for the splish-splash of the waves 
against the dock. 

" 'T is very well to say, ' Be sure and kill him,' " said one 
of the hiding men to his companion, " but how shall I be 
able to recognize him? " 

" That will be easy," the other replied. " They tell me 
Magellan fought against the Moors in Morocco and there 
received a wound in the knee. Now he walks lame and you 
will be able to recognize him by his limp. But be careful, 
for he is very strong, having been in many battles with the 
Malays in Malacca. We must kill this Portuguese noble- 
man ; for, though our King would not help him in his search 
for a western passage to India, he is jealous because Magel- 
lan came to Spain and received help there. Now our Maj- 
esty wishes to put an end to this expedition, which sails in 
two days. So when you see him, strike and strike hard." 

" That I will do," said the first, " but tell me what mean 
these piles of boxes? Surely the provisions are already on 
board." 

81 



82 



THE PERIOD OF DISCO\'ERY 



" Yes, the provisions are on l:ioarc1," explained his com- 
panion. " These boxes contain bells — twenty thousand 
little brass bells, I heard a sailor say. . Besides these, Ma- 
gellan is taking five hundred pounds of glass beads to ex- 
change for spices in India. 
He knows — "' 

" S-sh ! some one is com- 
ing," interrupted his friend, 
pointing to a tall heavy- 
limbed man who was coming 
slowly down the dock. The 
breeze from the sea gently 
waved his long hair, and as 
he walked he dragged one 
leg along. 

" IMagellan ! " whispered 
the hidden men. 

In the twinkling of an eye 
the men leaped from the 
shadows. The patter of 
their feet on the wooden dock caused Magellan to look 
around. He turned in time to see the long blade of a 
dagger flash down upon him. Quickly he sidestepped the 
blow and shot out his powerful arm. With terrific force 
his fist struck the chin of the assassin, and he crumpled 
down on the dock in a heap. The other assassin, in run- 
ning to the attack had tripped. Before he could recover 
his balance, Magellan was upon him. The struggle was 
brief, and with his strong arms Magellan overpowered him. 




Ferdinand Magellan 



VOYAGE OF THE " VICTORL\ " 83 

\\'hen Magellan looked down on the faces of the men 
who had tried to kill him, his countenance was sad. 

" Alas ! Alas ! " he said. " Aly own king refuses me help 
and now tries to prevent Spain from coming to my assist- 
ance by sending my countrymen of Portugal to slay me just 
when I am about to sail. The dangers I must face at sea 
are great, indeed, for the five boats are old and worn out. 
But in spite of all these trials, I will succeed." 

Even after he had turned the two assassins over to the 
night-watch and w'as limping away, he kept muttering: " I 
will succeed. I will succeed." 

When preparations were completed, Magellan sailed from 
Spain, September 20th, 15 19, with his five worn-out ships 
and a crew of two hundred and seventy men. He thought 
the new world was a large island and that perhaps he might 
find a strait through which he could sail to India. So he 
steered his ships towards the Southwest. The fleet had 
hardly passed from the sight of land wdien ther^ came a 
calm. For three long weeks the sails flapped idly at their 
masts, awaiting the coming of the wind. Then with a 
whirling rush it came and tossed the vessels about in the 
storm and sent the waves splashing high over their decks. 
With great difficulty the ships weathered the gales, and after 
a w^eary voyage of two months ]\Iagellan and his crew 
landed on the shores of Brazil. 

Still eager to find the strait which should lead them to 
India, the Spanish sailors continued their journev along the 
coast until they came to the broad mouth of the Rio de la 
Plata. 



84 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



" Here is the strait at last," exclaimed Magellan to his 
pilot. " Steer the ship through to the ocean which must 
lie on the other side." 

The Spanish fleet, headed by Magellan's flagship the 
" Victoria," entered the great river. On its banks the 
sailors saw great palm and cocoanut trees. Monkeys were 
swinging in the branches, and the noise of their chatter 
mingled with the calls of bright-colored birds. 






^^-'--vV / EQUATOR 'JjjAp 3.^o^.f ^^,^ 





Magellan's Voyage around the Globe 

As they were gazing with delight at the strange sights, 
a sailor informed Magellan that the water of the river was 
no longer salty. A look of disappointment came upon the 
face of Magellan and he shook his head. 

" Since the w^ater is no longer salty," he said, " we are 
not on a strait connecting two oceans. This is some large 
inland river. \\'e must turn about." 

So the vessels turned and sailing down the river to its 
mouth journeyed south along the shore of South America. 
As they proceeded, the days grew shorter and shorter. The 
winds brought the stings of winter with them, and soon the 



VOYAGE OF THE " \TCTORL\ " 85 

cold grew so intense that the sailors could hardly handle 
the ropes and sails which were frozen stiff with spray. 
They were now in the grasp of the Antarctic winter which 
takes place at the time of our summer. 

The storms grew worse, and each day the supply of pro- 
visions ran lower. The sailors were fearful lest the ships 
be wrecked and all hands perish, and they murmured 
against Magellan. In the month of March 1520, Magellan 
was forced by the severity of the weather to turn his fleet 
into a sheltered cove, called Port Julien, on the coast of 
Patagonia. There he spent the winter. 

With the coming of spring in August, Magellan con- 
tinued his voyage. During the whole of September they 
sailed south but found no break in the coast. On October 
20th, they entered a narrow passage with mountains rising 
on both sides. This waterway, which is now known as the 
Strait of Magellan, was crooked and dangerous and always 
swept by gales and storms. So perilous seemed the jour- 
ney that the captain and crew of one of Magellan's ships 
lost heart and deserted rather than make the trip through 
the choppy waters of the strait. Another vessel was 
wrecked and left to rot on the rocky shore. With only 
three ships, Magellan battled on, and after five weeks, 
passed from the stormy strait to the waters of a peaceful 
ocean. In great joy, Magellan gazed upon the quiet sea 
and because it was so calm, he called it the Pacific Ocean. 

The Spaniards thought that the Pacific was a narrow 
stretch of water beyond which lay India. They did not 
realize the immense size of the globe and thought that 



86 HIE PERIOD OF DISCOA ERY 

a journey of a day or two would l)ring them to the lands 
of the East. 

Thinking that he would soon reach India, Magellan 
steered his fleet now toward the Northwest. Elis expedi- 
tion was poorly prepared for the voyage across the Pacific. 
He had only a small quantity of fresh water and provisions. 
Yet with great daring they set sail across the three thousand 
miles of the ocean. Dav after day slipped by, the days be- 
came weeks and the weeks months, yet no land appeared. 
The provisions grew ever scarcer until the last scrap of food 
was gone. The sailors were faint with hunger; their 
strength left them and they dragged their thin, weak bodies 
about, looking everywhere for food. So desperate did they 
become, that they ate the leather that was wrapped about 
the ropes. This was tough and gave little nourishment. 
Nineteen sailors dropped from hunger and did not rise again, 
while countless others grew deadly sick. 

Gaunt and grim with determination, Magellan guided the 
ships. He could not turn back, for that meant death. 
Each day he strained his eyes in search for land ; each day 
he was disappointed. At last on March 6th, 1521, a shout 
of joy went up from the boats. Land at last ! They were 
saved ! 

The natives of the islands to w^hich the ships had come, 
flocked on board bringing baskets of fruit, spices and vege- 
tables. The hungry sailors gladly exchanged their brass 
bells for the oranges and melons which seemed so delicious 
after the terrible days of starving. But the natives were 
very wicked and stole many things when the Spaniards were 



VOYAGE OF THE " \TCTORIA " 



87 



not watching. 



When ]^Jagellan was leaving he called the 



newly found islands the " Ladrones " or " Islands of the 
Thieves " because the natives stole so many articles from the 
ships. 

After a voyage of almost two weeks Magellan came to 
a group of islands which are known to-day as the Philip- 




Magellan Lands in the Philippines 

pines. The King of the island of Cebu was kind to Magel- 
lan and his men, but the people of the other islands did 
not like the Spaniards. A serious battle between the in- 
habitants and the Spanish sailors took place, and Magellan 
was wounded and soon afterwards died. Magellan's men 
were heartbroken at the death of their leader. ^Mlen they 
asked the King of Cebu for his body, he refused, and they 



88 THE PERIOi:) OF DISCOVERY 

were forced to depart without giving their hrave commander 
a fitting burial 

Elcano now commanded the expedition ; but before sail- 
ing west the sailors found one of the ships to be unsea- 
worthy and burned it on the beach. Only two were now 
left and the captain and the crew of one of the remaining 
vessels refused to sail on the dangerous voyage to Spain 
and returned to Panama. Of these fifty-four men who 
sailed to Panama only four ever reached Spain. 

Elcano and his crew on board ^Magellan's flagship, the 
" Victoria," determined to continue their journey round the 
world. They sailed southwest to the Molucca Islands and 
bartered their bells and beads for the spices of the islands. 
Then, the " Victoria " set her sails for the voyage home- 
ward round the Cape of Good Hope and up the coast of 
Africa to Spain. 

The final voyage was as terrible as the one across the 
Pacific. Sickness and starvation came upon the crew and 
carried away many of their number. Beatriz, the wife of 
Magellan with her little son Rodrigo, had accompanied her 
husband through all the perils of the journey. Saddened 
by his death, she would roam about the deck helping the 
sailors who were ill. But her sorrows were soon ended. 
The mother and her little child grew ill and died before the 
vessel reached the shores of Spain. 

On September 26th, 1522, after a three years' absence, 
the storm-battered " Victoria " — the first ship to circle the 
gk)be, slowly sailed into the Spanish harbor. Its long 



VOYAGE OF THE " VICTORIA " 89 

voyage was over. Of her crew of two hundred and seventy 
men only thirty-one sick and worn-out sailors returned. 

Magellan, like many other heroes, died before he saw 
the result of his efforts. But his work was not in vain for 
the expedition begun by Magellan proved that the earth 
was round and that its size was far beyond the idea common 
among men. His journey also showed that America was 
not an island but a great continent and that sailing west 
was not the shortest way to India. 

We know no North, nor South, nor West; 

One Union binds us all ; 
Its stars and stripes are o'er us flung, — 

'Neath them we '11 stand or fall. 

Anon 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD 

1577 

It was in the year 1577 and out in the harljor of 
Plymouth, England, that five large vessels were riding at 
anchor waiting for the order to sail. The largest was 
called the " Pelican " and on this ship two sailors stood 
talking. 

" Is this your first voyage with Drake?" asked the first 
sailor. 

" Yes," replied the other, " I heard so much ahont Drake 
and his great fights with the Spaniards that I asked to join 
his expedition. But where are we going? " 

" I do not know," said the first sailor. " Some think we 
are going to Egypt. I heard, too, that we are sailing to 
America. But wherever we go, you '11 see lots of fighting 
and plenty of gold. There is n't a more daring leader than 
our Admiral Drake and the Spaniards just hate and fear 
him. You know Drake sailed under Sir John Havv'kins 
and one day the Spaniards attacked the English after they 
had promised Sir John that they would not. In the fight 
Hawkins lost four boats. This made Hawkins pretty mad 
as he had just sold a number of slaves and the gold he re- 
ceived for them was lost in the ships that were sunk. Ever 
since then Drake had hated the Spaniards and has captured 

go 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE 



91 



their treasure-ships. He had robbed so many Spanish boats 
of their gold that Spain has asked our good Queen Bess to 
hand Drake over for punishment. Of course our Queen 
refused and some say she is helping Drake fit out this ex- 




Sir Francis Drake 

pedition. For you know England is not friendly with 
Spain now. But I long for a good fight. We sail very 
soon. Why, here comes the Admiral now ! " 

The sailors stood at attention. Up the ship's side came 
Admiral Drake with some officers. He was not verv tall 
and was dressed in a rich suit of silken top-coat and cloak 



92 THE PERIOD OE DISC0\'I-:RY 

and knee breeches. His shoes were low and he wore silk 
stockings. A large ruffle of white was about his neck while 
a thin sword swung at his side. His hair was brown and 
his beard pointed and long. Walking past the sailors, who 
saluted, he entered his cabin which was like a rich man's 
home. The chairs and table were made of carved, polished 
wood ; and gold and silver ornaments adorned the room. 

Turning to his captain, Drake said : " Captain Winter, 
the expedition sails at five o'clock. Please give the orders 
to the fleet." 

" Ay! ay! Sir," said Captain John Winter. 

At five o'clock the signal went forth and soon the decks 
of the boats were filled with sailors getting the sails into 
place. Pulleys were creaking, chains were rattling, and 
orders were being shouted by the officers. The large white 
sails were at last all up, and at five o'clock on Xovember 1 5, 
1577, Drake's ships sailed from the harbor of Plymouth. 
Toward the South they sailed until they reached the coast 
of Africa. Here at different times they met with a number 
of Spanish caravels which they captured. As yet Drake 
did not tell the sailors whither the expedition was bound. 
When the Cape Verde Islands were reached, the Admiral 
told his crews that he intended to sail around South America 
to the Pacific Ocean and to plunder the treasure-ships of the 
Spaniards which he would find there. 

When the supplies were on board, the fleet left the Cape 
Verde Islands and crossed the Atlantic to Brazil. Drake 
sailed down the coast of South America but as he went fur- 
ther south, the storms grew worse. So terrific were the 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE 93 

winds and waves that Drake decided to spend the winter at 
Port St. Julien. just as Magellan had done years before. 
From June until August the English sailors lived in huts 
and tents at Port St. Julien. While they were in this camp 
a plot was formed to kill Drake. 

When Drake heard of this plot, he called his officers to- 
gether. " There is a person amongst us," said the Admiral, 
" who is planning to kill me. I thought he was my friend 
and I trusted him, but he has worked very hard to slay 
me and ruin our success. What shall I do with 
him?" 

The officers were very much surprised for they thought 
that all the crew loved their leader. " Let him die ! " they 
cried, " let him die ! " 

The guilty man, who was already a prisoner, was hanged ; 
and peace was restored in the camp. When the ships were 
reloaded with water and provisions, Drake and his crew left 
Port St. Julien, and in August 1578 they entered the Strait 
of Magellan. Just as the boats sailed into the narrow pas- 
sage, Drake held a little ceremony in honor of Queen 
Elizabeth. He ordered the sails lowered half way while a 
sermon was preached. Then Drake changed the name of 
the " Pelican " to the " Golden Hind." After this' ceremony 
the English sailed on through the channel and in two weeks 
came to the Pacific. It took Magellan over five weeks to 
make the same journey. 

As the English vessels entered the Pacific Ocean, a fierce 
storm burst upon them. For fifty-two days the winds swept 
the sea and tossed the ships about. When the storm died 



94 



THE PERIOD OE DISCO\'ERY 



down, out of the fi\e ships, only one remained This was 
the " Golden Hind/' 

In this sturdy boat, Drake sailed slowly up the coast of 
South America. Wherever there was a harbor, the English 
entered it and took whatever they pleased. The Spaniards 
never expected to see an English ship on the Pacific and were 
too frightened to fight. At one of the stopping-places. 




Drake's Ship, " The Golden Hind " 

Drake's men found a Spaniard who had fallen asleep while 
guarding a pile of gold and silver bars. The sailors did not 
wake him but quietly took the treasure and laughingly stole 
away to their ships. Many towns did they plunder and 
many Spanish boats laden with silver and gold were cap- 
tured and stripped of their cargoes. 

Sailing into the harbor of Arica, Drake beheld a beauti ful 
Spanish town whose people were busy in mining and com- 



DRAKE'S \^OYAGE 95 

merce. Before the Spaniards could recover from their sur- 
prise, Drake attacked their ships and easily captured them. 
Two of the boats were treasure-ships and contained over 
forty bars of silver. Each bar weighed about twenty 
pounds. Drake seized this treasure and sailed to Lima, the 
largest Spanish port in Peru. \Miile on the way, he cap- 
tured two Spanish vessels filled with silver and fine linen. 

In the stillness of night, Drake entered the harbor of 
Lima. Over thirty Spanish ships were at anchor. Drake 
w^as very daring and sailed into the midst of them. The 
Spaniards were so alarmed at the sudden appearance of the 
" Golden Hind," that they did not resist the English. 

Drake searched every ship but did not find any gold or 
silver. From a captive he heard that a ship laden with 
treasure had left two weeks before for Panama. The Ad- 
miral resolved to pursue this ship and capture it. 

Although the treasure-ship which was called the " Spit- 
fire." had a start of two weeks, Drake was sure of catching 
up with it. He even stopped to visit three ports on the way 
and capture rich booty. Then he set out in earnest to cap- 
ture the " Spitfire." A heavy golden chain was offered to 
the sailor who first beheld her. Slowly but surely the 
" Golden Hind " caught up with the slow-sailing Spanish 
ship. The race grew hotter and hotter. Two days now 
separated the English from the treasure. The distance 
grew shorter and shorter. Just as the " Golden Hind " 
passed Cape Francis, John Drake, the young son of the 
Admiral called out, " A sail ! A sail ! It is the ' Spitfire.' 
Hurrah! I win the golden chain." 



96 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



Admiral Drake looked through his sea-glass and said : 
" You are right, my boy, it is the ' Spitfire,' but we must 
not go alongside until night. Let heavy casks be dragged 
along from the stern to slow up our speed." 

This was done but as darkness came over the ocean, the 
casks were cut away and the " Golden Hind " sprang for- 
ward to the attack. A single 
shot rang out across the bow of 
the " Spitfire " and the Span- 
iards surrendered. 

For six days the two ships 
sailed side by side while the treas- 
ure was taken from the " Spit- 
fire." Never had the English 
captured so rich a prize. The 
Spanish vessel was loaded with 
^ fruit, sugar, meats, and supplies ; 

"Jh^' h'y^ef'^ ^ '^^^^ greatest of all was the treas- 

., .^ ure. It consisted of many bags 

of precious stones, thirteen chests 
of golden dollars, eighty pounds 
of gold, and twenty-six tons of 
silver. This plunder amounted to over ten million dol- 
lars not counting the precious jewels! 

Drake's success now alarmed the Spaniards and his name 
spread throughout all South America. Not a Spanish 
vessel dared to leave its port on the Pacific for fear of 
Drake. 

But Drake was anxious to return home as he had a vast 




Sir Francis Drake. 

(With autograph.) 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE 97 

amount of treasure. He could not sail around South 
America as the Spaniards were watching for him with large 
fleets. As he was now north of the equator, he decided to 
find the Northwest Passage to England. 

He said: " H we should find a northwest passage, not 
only should we be doing a great service to our Queen but 
we could thereby return all the sooner to our homes which 
we long to see again. So let us find a place in which to 
repair our ship and then sail joyously homeward." 

Drake reached what is now Vancouver but the cold be- 
came so great and the fogs so dense that he gave up the 
search for a northwest passage and returned along the coast. 
The " Golden Hind '' began to leak and Drake entered what 
is now the bay of San Francisco. The natives worshiped 
the English because they thought Drake and his men were 
strange gods. 

When the crew landed, Drake set up a large post upon 
which he nailed a brass plate. Upon the plate was engraved 
the name of Queen Elizabeth, the date of the " Golden 
Hind's " arrival and the name of Admiral Drake. Drake 
placed a picture of Queen Bess on the post and stuck a six- 
pence in a hole made in the brass plate. " I name this land 
New Albion," said Drake, " and since no Spaniard has set 
foot here, I claim this country in the name of Elizabeth, 
Queen of England." 

On July 23rd, 1578, Drake left San Francisco and sailed 
west across the Pacific. After sixty-eight days the " Golden 
Hind " reached the Philippines where Magellan had visited 
in the year 1521. From these islands Drake sailed south 



98 



THE PERIOD Ol- DlSCO\'ERY 



to the East Indies and then across the Indian Ocean. Pass- 
ing the Cape of Good Hope at the southern end of Africa, 
Drake turned his ship toward home. 

On September 26th, 1580, the storm tossed "Golden 
Hind " sailed into the harl)or of Plymouth. From Ply- 
mouth it had gone forth and to Plymouth it returned after 




Elizabeth's visit to the " Golden Hind " 



sailing around the world from sea to sea, from continent 
to continent. 

Queen Elizabeth was well pleased with the work per- 
formed by Drake and his men. To show her gratitude, she 
paid a visit to " Golden Hind." There on the deck she bade 
him kneel and as he knelt, Elizabeth struck him lightly with 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE 



99 



a sword, saying : " I dub thee Knight ; and because thou 
wert so brave, henceforth thou shah be called Sir Francis 
Drake." Besides granting this great favor, Elizabeth gave 
orders that the " Golden Hind " was never to be destroyed. 
Many years later, the good ship fell to pieces and ornaments 
were made from its wood. 
At Oxford, England, there is 
a chair made from the 
" Golden Hind " — the first 
English vessel to sail around 
the world. 

The King of Spain was 
very angry with England be- 
cause Queen Elizabeth al- 
lowed Drake to plunder the 
Spanish ships. The two 
countries soon became very 
jealous because each one 
feared that the other would 
gain the wealth of the New- 
World. Soon open war 
broke out and Philip H of 
Spain resolved to invade Eng- 
land. 

While he was collecting a large fleet, Drake dashed across 
the Atlantic and did great damage to the Spanish colonies. 
He then returned to England and at the Queen's command, 
swooped down upon the Spanish coast. He defeated the 
Spaniards in their own home and burned many of their 




Philip II 



From photttgravure of portrait hy Titi: 
Prado Museum, Madrid. By pen 
Berlin Photographic Co. 



loo THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

ships. Drake then sent a letter to Queen Ehzaheth in which 
he wrote, " I have singed the Spaniard's beard." 

In 1588 PhiHp II was ready at last with the largest fleet 
ever assembled. This fleet was called the " Armada " and 
w^hen the news of its coming reached England, the nation 
was greatly alarmed. All England rose in arms and Drake 
was made vice-admiral under Admiral Howard. But just 
as the great Armada reached the coast of England, a storm 
scattered the fleet. After three weeks, the attack was re- 
newed. The Spanish ships formed in the shape of a cres- 
cent and proudly advanced up the English channel. But 
the rapid, well-trained English boats slipped in amongst the 
heavier Spanish vessels, fired their guns, and sailed away 
before the Spaniards could answer their shots. Drake sent 
blazing fire-ships among the invaders and scattered their 
boats in dreadful confusion. Soon the dashing English 
fighters under Howard drove back the mighty Armada in 
defeat. The Spaniards were utterly repulsed and sailed 
away without doing any damage. Storms scattered the 
Armada and many of the ships were wrecked on the coast 
of Scotland and only a few reached Spain. The mighty ex- 
pedition, which was to have conquered England, thus ended 
in direful failure. 

After the defeat of the Armada, Drake sailed again on 
another expedition to America. He was now over fifty 
years old. When sailing near Porto Rico he took sick and 
died, January 28th, 1596. As the leaden casket which con- 
tained his body was slowly lowered into the sea, cannon 
boomed out the funeral note, and two of his ships were 



DRAKE'S VOYAGE 



lOI 




Battle between the British Fleet and the Armada 



102 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



sunk to mark his last resting-place. When the great Ad- 
miral was lowered to his watery grave, the sailers were very 
sorrowful. " It is too bad," said one sailor to another, 
" Admiral Drake w^as good to us all. He treated his pris- 
oners w'ell and never w^as cruel to women or children. He 
shared his plunder even with the lowest seaman. There 
will never be another man like Francis Drake." 




IT IS N'T RAINING RAIN TO ME 

It is n't raining rain to me^ 

It's raining daffodils; 
In every dimpled drop I see 

Wild flowers on the hills ; 
The clouds of gray engulf the day, 

And overwhelm the town; 
It is n't raining rain to me, 

It 's raining roses down. 

It is n't raining rain to me, 

But fields of clover bloom, ' 
Where every buccaneering bee 

May find a bed and room ; 
A health unto the happy ! 

A fig for him who frets — 
It is n't raining rain to me. 

It 's raining violets. 

Robert Loiruian 



103 



HENRY HUDSON 
1609 

In a coiinting-hoiise in the city of Amsterdam, Holland, 
a meeting of merchants was being held. The Dutch 
traders wore rich garments of doublet and pantaloons with 
long cloaks over their shoulders and large ruffs about their 
necks. They were seated at a. table and before them were 
maps and charts and many papers. The men were talking 
to each other when the door opened and all looked up to 
see the person who entered. He was tall and straight and 
was dressed in doublet and hose, and carried a broad cap 
which had a large feather in it. He was not a native of 
Holland for his face showed him to be an Englishman. 

'' Members of the Dutch East India Company," he said, 
bowing low to the men at the table, " I am Henry Hudson 
of England and I have come to see why you summoned me 
before you." 

" Captain Hudson, you are welcome," replied one of the 
merchants as he rose from the table. " Please sit down and 
let me explain why we have called upon you to visit us." 

" Since Holland won its freedom from Spain," the mer- 
chant said, " our little country has made great success in 
commerce, especially with the East Indies, in spices, silks, 
and tea. This trade is very profitable but much of our 

104 



HENRY HUDSON 



10"^ 



profit is lost because the routes are so long. The way 
around the Cape of Good Hope is dangerous, while the one 
through the Strait of Magellan is in the hands of Spain 
who hates us. So we, the members of the Dutch East 
India Company, have studied the charts and we think that 
perhaps a shorter route may be found by sailing around 




Henry Hudson before the Dutch East India Company 

the north of Europe. We need a leader for the expedition 
and we thought of you. You are a famous explorer and 
have made two daring attempts to cross the Arctic Ocean 
to India. I hereby ofifer you the command of the expedition 
to find a northeast passage to India." 

" I thank you for your kindness," answered Hudson, " I 
am sure that a short northeast passage would be a much 



io6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

quicker way to India. In my two attempts I had to turn 
back because of the heavy ice. But I have already received 
an offer from the King of France to sail for him. Give 
me a day in which to decide. Then, if I do set out for your 
Company, I shall succeed." 

Hudson left the room ; but on the next day, he returned 
to the Dutch East India Company and accepted their offer. 
He signed his commission to sail around the north of 
Europe, and if he could not find a northeast passage, to 
return to Holland. 

The Company fitted out a vessel fcjr him which was called 
the " Half Moon." It was a small boat of only eighty-tons' 
burden with a lot deck and a high poop. iMongside of the 
large boats of to-day the " Half Moon " would seem like a 
tiny ship which a storm could easily sink. 

In April 1609, with the Dutch llag flying at her mast, 
the clumsy " Half Moon " sailed from Holland. Hudson 
steered northeast up the coast of Holland and then along 
the shores of Norway. As he sailed farther north the cold 
increased and the sea became filled with broken ice which 
l)umped and hindered the " Half Moon," Hudson at- 
tempted to push his way through these fields of broken ice, 
but soon the passage was blocked and he could not go on 
any further. The Dutch sailors feared that their boat 
would be frozen in on all sides by the ice and they would 
be unable to return, but would perish from cold and starva- 
tion. 

Hudson did not wish to give up the attempt to find the 
northeast passage but now he had little hope of success. 



HENRY HUDSON 107 

As he sat in his cabin, the mate of the " Half Moon '" came 
before him and sakited. 

" Captain Hudson," said the mate, " the crew is mur- 
muring against continuing the journey. They say that we 
shall all perish in the ice if we do not return soon. They 
ask that you sail back to Holland." 

" I am afraid," replied Hudson sadly, " that the ice is 
too strong for our vessel. The Company ordered me to 
return to Holland if I did not find the northeast passage. 
But listen. Just before I left Amsterdam, my friend. Cap- 
tain John Smith, who is in the new colony of Virginia, 
wrote me a letter. He said that he looked for a western 
strait to China but could not find any near the Chesapeake 
Bay. He thought that a passage might be found if one 
sailed farther north. I cannot return to Holland and say 
that I have failed. I have it ! I shall sail and find the 
northwest passage through the New World ! Tell the 
sailors I shall return — but not to Hohand." 

Soon the " Half Moon " was being tossed by the waves 
of the Atlantic. The storms were severe, and many times 
did the Dutch sailors think that they would perish in the 
deep. With the foremast broken ofif and the sails torn into 
tatters, the " Half Moon " reached the northeast coast of 
North America. In what is now Penobscot Bay, Hudson 
anchored and there repaired the " Half Moon." When the 
new mast, which was made from a tree growing on the 
coast, was put in place and the sails repaired, Hudson con- 
tinued to sail down the coast. Passing Cape Cod, he went 
as far south as Chesapeake Bay. John Smith had told him 



io8 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

that there was no passage south of the Chesapeake so he 
turned about and traveled closely along the shore and 
watched carefully for an opening in the coast. 

On September 3rd, 1609, Hudson beheld a splendid har- 
bor and thinking that it might be the longed-for passage to 




Henry Hudson 

India, he steered the " Half Moon " into what is now 
known as New York Bay. In this beautiful wide harbor 
Hudson anchored the " Half Moon " and remained for a 
few days. At first the natives thought that the Dutch 
sailors were enemies and they attacked a party of the Dutch 



HENRY HUDSON 109 

who set out to explore the land. One of the sailors was 
killed and several were wounded by the arrows of the 
Indians. The natives were very curious to see the " great 
white bird," as they called the " Half Moon," and soon they 
became very friendly. On their trips to the boat, they 
brought tobacco, fruit, and furs, which they exchanged for 
knives, trinkets, and rum. 

Hudson resolved to sail up this strait, which he thought 
would lead to India. Soon he came to a long, widening 
island where the waters of the harbor were divided into two 
large rivers. He turned his ship toward the left and en- 
tered the wonderful river which now bears his name. As 
the " Half Moon " sailed on and on, the Dutch sailors 
gazed in wonder at the beautiful country. On the left 
bank, great walls of rugged rock guarded the river, while 
on the right were rolling hills which were bright with colors 
of Autumn. As they sailed farther up the river, they be- 
held the picturesque Catskill Mountains with their sides and 
tops covered with the yellow and brown and red of the 
trees. 

Along the way, Hudson made many stops to explore the 
country. While near what is now the town of Hudson, 
he stopped to visit an old Indian chief. When he came to 
the shore, he beheld a strongly built wigwam which was 
made of bark from the oak-tree. About the house, skins 
were drying and beans were piled for the winter's provision. 
When Hudson entered the hut, the Indian chief bowed in 
greeting. Two mats were then brought upon which the 
visitor sat while food was served in wooden bowls. In 



no THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

order to show special honor to his guest, the chief sent forth 
two of his men with bows and arrows to shoot game. 
When they returned they had two pigeons with them. A 
dog was killed and quickly skinned by the natives who used 
shells to perform the work. It was then placed upon a 
fire to roast. This, the Indians considered a fine feast. 
Hudson enjoyed the kindness of the old chief but when 
night came he returned to the " Half Moon." The In- 
dians were very sorry to see him go. They wished him 
to remain as their guest. 

The " Half Moon " continued its journey up the river, 
but soon all the pleasure of the voyage was turned to dis- 
appointment. The water of the river was no longer salty! 
When Hudson saw this he knew that he was on some great 
river and that he had not discovered a western passage to 
Asia. To make sure he explored the river as far north 
as what is now Albany. Here the water was very shallow 
which showed that it could not lead to India. 

So, in great disappointment, he turned the " Half 
Moon " about and sailed slowly down the river. His men 
made many trades with the Indians, eagerly buying the 
rich furs which the natives brought to the ship. When the 
signs of winter were seen, Hudson and his crew hastened 
to return home. On October 15th, they sailed from the 
harbor. 

Hudson did not return directly to Holland but landed 
at Dartmouth in England. From this port, he sent the 
news of his discovery and exploration to the Dutch East 
India Company and asked for more men and money to 



HENRY HUDSON 



III 



continue the work which he had begun. The Dutch mer- 
chants were pleased with Hudson's report and they sent 
word to him to return to Amsterdam to explain all about 
his trip. 




Hudson Cast Adrift 

When King James of England heard of this, he com- 
manded Hudson to come to him at court. 

" Captain Hudson," the King said, " I cannot let you go 
to Holland, You are an Englishman. H you are to make 



112 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

any discoveries you should sail under England's flag and 
claim them for England." 

So Henry Hudson remained in England, and in the early 
spring of 1610 he sailed with the English flag at the mast, 
to find a northwest passage. Reaching the coast of Lab- 
rador, he sailed northwest and entered the large bay which 
has received his name. It was early winter when his ship 
entered the bay and soon the great, cold winds from the 
north blew upon the waters and froze the English ship 
fast in the ice. During all the long winter Hudson and 
his crew were imprisoned by the heavy ice. 

When spring came, Hudson wished to continue on his 
northwest journey but the crew rebelled. They rose in 
mutiny, seized Hudson and his little son and seven faithful 
sailors, and set them adrift in an open boat on the wind 
swept sea. Then the wicked crew turned the bow of the 
boat and sailed to England. When they arrived with- 
out Hudson the cruel sailors were seized and put in prison. 
Brave men set out from England to try and find Hudson 
but they searched in vain. Nowhere could they find any 
trace of the heroic explorer. 

Henry Hudson was a brave and courageous leader. He 
attempted first to find a northeast passage and afterwards 
a northwest passage to India. He did not find either the 
northeast or the northwest passage but he discovered a 
mighty river and a great bay. Because of his brave work, 
the Dutch got possession of rich, new lands. Out upon the 
icy-cold seas of the north, Henry Hudson died a hero, loyal 
and true to his duty. 



MANY FLAGS IN MANY LANDS 

There are many flags in many lands, 
There are flags of ev'ry hue; 
But there is no flag however grand, 
Like our own " Red, White and Blue." 

Then hurrah for the flag. 

Our country's flag, 

Its stripes and white stars too ; 

There is no flag in any land 

Like our own " Red, White and Blue." 

We shall always love the " Stars and Stripes, 
And we mean to be forever true 
To this land of ours and the dear old flag, 
" The Red, the White, and the Blue." 



1^3 



THE INDIANS 

In the valley of Onondaga in what is now nortlicrn New 
York, stood a large Indian village. It was the home of the 
mighty Iroquois nation which was the most powerful tribe 
among the Indians. 

A young Indian boy with dark skin and straight black 
hair was standing near a large house built of bark. He 
was dressed in deerskin clothing; moccasins were on his 
feet ; and in his hand he held a bow. 

" Oo-oh ! " called another Indian boy who came running 
up from the nearby woods. " Come, come Little Bear," 
said the boy as he approached. " We are playing war. 
They sent me to bring you. The boys want you to be 
chief." 

" No, no ! " answered Little Bear, " I will not go. I 
wish to stay until the council is over. Then I will see the 
great chiefs who are inside. They have come many miles 
to the council. Go, tell the boys I will not play." 
■ Little Bear waited patiently outside the door of the 
council-house. Inside, the great chiefs were gathered to- 
gether to talk about the war with their enemies, the Al- 
gonquin's. The house had one large room, and on each 
side of the room there were seats for six mighty chiefs. 
Only the very great chiefs were allowed to attend the 
council. A famous warrior rose to speak and the others 

"4 



THE INDIANS 



115 



smoked their pipes in silence and listened. The speaker 
sang his words instead of speaking them. When the coun- 
cil liked the words of the speaker, they said " Nee," which 
means " Yes." When the speech was over, all the chiefs 
exclaimed " Hoho," which showed that they were pleased 
with what the speaker said. Then two entered with a 




V 




Indians Fishing 

From a book published in 1D90 

large kettle swinging on a pole which they carried across 
their shoulders. Each helped himself to the food in the 
kettle and ate the warm meat. After the meal was over, 
the chiefs silently left the council-house. 

Little Bear was very proud when he saw the warriors 
come forth. He liked their great feathers and the scalps 



ii6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

at their belts. " Some day I shall be a great chief! "" ex- 
claimed Little Bear. " Then I will come to the council." 
Little Bear was only twelve years old, yet he was very 
strong. His father was a mighty warrior and had taught 
him how to shoot his bow. He learned to hunt and one 
day he shot a bear with his arrow. Little Bear felt very 
happy to be able to tell his father of his success. 

Little Bear did not have to study lessons in school- 
books. Instead he learned to run and jump, to swim 
across the rivers and to go many days without eating. 
His father taught him never to cry when he was hurt and 
Little Bear grew so brave that he did not mind even when 
he burnt his fingers or cut himself with his sharp knife. 

When Little Bear was six years old, like all the other 
Indian boys, he fasted all day on a mountain-top. He 
could not eat any food but he prayed to the Great Spirit 
to make him a brave warrior. Many times did Little Bear 
fast. He was now waiting until he was sixteen years old. 
Then he would fast for five long days. After he had 
fasted, he would see the animal he had to kill. If he 
killed this animal, he took the skin and made a bag of 
it. The Indians believed that this bag protected them in 
battle. 

Little Bear learned to wander through the forest with- 
out getting lost, how to build a campfire by rubbing two 
pieces of wood together and how to cook the meat of the 
anmials he killed. He knew the names of all the flowers 
and he could imitate the call of the birds. He learned 
the war-cry of the warriors and how to fight the enemy. 



THE INDIANS 



117 



His father never punished him, but Little Bear was always 
respectful to his elders. He was taught also to tell the 
truth except to his enemies. 

But Little Bear did not learn to work. He never helped 
his mother in the garden or gathered wood for the fire. 
His sister. Pretty Star, had to do that work, for the 




Games of the Indian Youths 



Indian girls were taught to wait upon their fathers and 
brothers. Pretty Star helped her mother plant the corn. 
She gathered wood for the fire and minded the younger 
children. Her little baby-brother was strapped to a board 
and carried around on her mother's back, but Pretty Star 
played with her other sister and little brother. Sometimes 



ii8 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

when the work was over, she would sit in the sun and sew 
beads on the soft skin of the deer which her father had 
killed in the hunt. With her mother's help she made belts 
of small black and white shells. These strips were called 
wampum and the Indians used it for money. Little Star 
loved her brother very much because he could run faster 
than all the other Indian boys and could throw the strongest 
in a wrestling-match. 

Around Little Bear's house was a small garden and in 
it grew corn, tobacco, beans, and squash. Little Bear's 
mother and sister tended the garden, for the warriors 
spent their time hunting or fighting their enemies. The 
Indian squaw used a clam-shell tied to a stick as a hoe. 
In the camp-fire she would cook the meals. It was from 





Wampum Belt, presented by Indians to William Penn 

(By permissiou of the Li))rary Company of Pliiladelxdiia.) 

the Indians that the first settlers learned to make gruel 
and cakes from corn. 

Little Bear's house was a large one. The Iroquois did 
not live in tents but many families lived together in the 
large houses they built. Poles were laid over posts which 



THE INDIANS 119 

were driven into the ground and over these poles there was 
a covering- of ehn bark. The sides slanted toward the roof 
and were made also of bark. Inside there was a central 
passage where the fires were built. Along the sides were 




Flint Knife 

apartments or stalls w^here the Indians sat or slept on 
skins. Overhead hung dried meat and long ears of corn. 

While Little Bear's mother did all the hard work about 
the house, his father was a mighty warrior and spent many 
long days in hunting or fighting. He could run miles and 
miles without stopping and could fast for many days. When 
the war-cry was heard, he painted his body and taking his 
bow and arrows, he would march against the enemy. The 
Indians were very crafty and treacherous and when they 
captured an enemy they were very cruel. They tortured 
the captives and murdered the women and children. But 
when the Indian warrior w'as captured he was very brave. 
He would laugh when they hurt him and would die rather 
than show any fear. 

When Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River, the 
Iroquois tribe was spread over all the land which came 
to be called New York. They were called the Five Na- 
tions because there were five tribes which were banded to- 
gether — the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onandagas, and 



120 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



Senecas. There were many other tribes wliich were 
smaller in number, but the Iroquois was the ruling tribe. 
Each tribe had its own chief and was divided into clans. 




Chart showing the approximate location of the more prominent Indian 
tribes when first known to Europeans 



THE INDIANS 121 

Each clan had its own emblem which was called the to- 
tem. This totem was generally an animal such as the 
bear or wolf. By the members of the clan, the animal 
which was their totem was held sacred and must not be 
killed. The highest clan among the Indians were those 
of the " Bear " and the " Wolf." Little Bear's father be- 
longed to the clan of the Wolf and Little Bear was very 
proud because some day he, too, would be a warrior in the 
clan of the Wolf. 



HIAWATHA'S CHILDHOOD 

At the door on summer evenings 
Sat the httle Hiawatha ; 
Heard the whispering of the pine-trees. 
Heard the lapping of the waters, 
Sounds of music, words of wonder; 
" Minne-wawa ! " said the pine-trees. 
" Mudway-aushka ! '• said the water. — 
Saw the fire-fly, Wah-wah-taysee, 
FHtting through the dusk of evening, 
With the twinkle of its candle 
Lighting up the brakes and bushes ; 
And he sang the song of Children, 
Sang the song Nokomis taught him : 

" Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly. 
Little, flitting, white-fire insect. 
Little, dancing white-fire creature. 
Light me with your little candle. 
Ere upon my bed I lay me. 
Ere in sleep I close my eyelids?" — 
Saw the moon rise from the water 
Rippling, rounding from the water; 
Saw the fleets and shadows on it; 



HIAWATHA'S CHILDHOOD 123 

Whispered, " What is that, Nokomis? " 

And the good Nokomis answered : 

" Once a warrior very angry, 

Seized his grandmother, and threw her 

Up into the sky at midnight; 

Right against the moon he threw her; 

'T is her body that you see there." — 

Saw the rainljow in the heaven. 

In the eastern sky, the rainbow ; 

Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?" 

And the good Nokomis answered : 

" 'T is the heaven of flowers yon see there ; 

All the wild-flowers of the forest. 

All the lilies of the prairie, 

When on earth they fade and perish. 

Blossom in that heaven above us." 

When he heard the owls at midnight, 

Hooting, laughing in the forest, 

"What is that?" he cried in terror; 

"What is that," he said, "Nokomis?" 

And the good Nokomis answered : 

" That is but the owl and owlet. 

Talking in their native language. 

Talking, scolding at each other. 

Then the little Hiawatha 

Learned of every bird its language. 

Learned their names and all their secrets. 

How they built their nests in Summer, 

Where they hid themselves in Winter, 



124 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Talked with them whene'er lie met them, 
Called them " Hiawatha's Chickens." 
Of all beasts he learned their language, 
Learned their names and all their secrets, 
How the beavers built their lodges, 
Where the squirrels hid their acorns, 
How the reindeer ran so swiftly. 
Why the rabbit was so timid, 
Talked with them whene'er he met them, 
Called them " Hiawatha's Brothers." 

H. W. Longfellow 



JACQUES CARTIER 
1534 

"Hurrah for the King!" "Long live the King of 
France! " On the dock of the town of St. Malo in north- 
western France, soldiers and sailors and townspeople were 
gathered. They were bidding farewell to two little ships 
which were sailing out of the harbor. Handkerchiefs 
were waving and caps were tossed in the air while the 
people shouted: "Long live the King!" "Hurrah for 
Jacques Cartier! " The ships sailed farther away and grew 
smaller and smaller until at last they vanished from sight. 
When the townspeople could not see the ships any longer, 
they returned one by one to their quiet homes. 

On board the vessels which sailed away were Jacques 
Cartier and his crew of one hundred and twenty men. 
Their King wished them to explore the part of America 
called " New France." So with Cartier in command, they 
set out across the sea in 1534. 

As the vessels sailed on and on, no storms arose ; the 
air was calm and the ocean was smooth. In twenty days, 
the black shores of Labrador rose up before the French 
sailors. When Cartier saw this barren land, he was dis- 
couraged for he thought that all the land would be like 
Labrador. But soon they sailed into the gulf, which Car- 

125 



126 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



tier called the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and there they saw a 
land of rich forests and flowers. The banks of the river 
were bright with blossoms while here and there the ex- 
plorers saw the Indians gazing at them in wonder. 

Cartier sailed up the broad river until he came to a 
high bluff where he and his crew landed. They named 
this hill Cape Gaspe and on its summit Cartier erected a 




Cartier's landing at Cape Gaspe 



very large cross. On this cross the French sailors placed 
a shield on which was written " Long live the King." The 
Indians gathered about the strangers, and Cartier gave 
them beads and knives which pleased them very much. 
Cartier lured two Indians on board his ship. When they 
wished to return, he kept them prisoners so that he might 
show them to his King in France. 



JACQUES CARTIER 127 

The Frenchmen now sailed farther on up the river. 
But the winds were too strong, and in a short time Cartier 
turned his ships about and sailed for France. He was 
eager to tell his King of the wonderful land he had seen. 

When Cartier reached France and told of the new coun- 
try he had visited, the French people were greatly ex- 
cited, especially when they beheld the strange-looking In- 
dians. Thinking that the St. Lawrence was a short way 
to China, the King of France resolved to send another ex- 
pedition to the new country. There was no difficulty about 
procuring money or sailors, and soon the expedition was 
made ready. 

In 1535 Cartier again sailed from his native town of 
St. Malo, and this time he commanded three ships and one 
hundred and ten sailors. On this voyage across the At- 
lantic, heavy gales blew the vessels out of their course, 
and seven weeks passed before Cartier sailed into the Gulf 
of St. Lawrence. 

As the French ships entered the bay, many Indians 
paddled out to the boats in birch-bark canoes and some 
climbed up over the sides of the vessels. The two Indians 
whom Cartier had taken away on his last voyage had 
learned the French language, and by means of them Cartier 
spoke with the natives. The Indians were pleased with 
the presents Cartier gave them. The two Indians who had 
returned from France dressed in brilliant colors and wear- 
ing the large feathers of a mighty chief told the Indians 
that Cartier was their friend. 

Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence and passing many 



128 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

islands came to the Indian village of Stadacona. Here the 
chief, who was called Donacona, came forth with many of 
his warriors to meet Cartier. While the Indian chief was 
speaking his words of welcome, the squaws of the tribe 
sang songs and danced in a queer manner. 

Donacona told Cartier of a large city which was situated 
farther up the river. But w^hen Cartier said he wished 
to see this town, which was named Hochelaga, the chief 
was displeased. He did not wish Cartier to sail up the 
St. Lawrence. 

" There are great fields of ice," the Indian said. " You 
will perish. Great big animals will attack you. Do not 
go." 

When Cartier answered that he was not afraid, Dona- 
cona tried to frighten him. Three Indians " with faces 
painted as black as coal, with horns as long as the arm, 
covered with skins of black and white dogs," paddled 
down past the French ships. They sang a weird song as 
they sailed along in their canoes. 

" See, see," said Donacona, " they are messengers from 
the Indian god who forbids you to sail up the river. You 
will perish because there is so much snow and ice." 

Cartier only laughed at this trick and, to teach the In- 
dians that he did not fear them, he had one of his men 
shoot off a cannon. The loud noise so terrified the In- 
dians that they no longer desired to stop Cartier. 

The French sailors then proceeded up the St. Lawrence 
and in a short time they came to the town of Hochelaga. 
A large palisade or wall of trees stood surrounding the 



JACQUES C ARTIER 129 

town, and Cartier entered through the one gate which was 
built in the wall. Inside there were many low huts or 
cabins from which hurried hordes of women and children. 
There were over twelve hundred inhabitants and they lived 
in large families in the low cabins which were fifty in 
number. 

With shouts of joy, the Indians welcomed Cartier and 
his men. They gathered in wonder about the Frenchmen 
for they thought the sailors were gods. At night bonfires 
were lighted and the Indians danced their strange dances. 
Cartier sat around the camp-fire with the Indian chief and 
his braves. After words of welcome many sick Indians 
came to Cartier for they were sure that he could cure them 
of their ills. But Cartier could only pray for them and he 
gave them knives and trinkets, and the Indians seemed 
happy. 

The Indian chief then took Cartier and his men to the 
top of a nearby mountain. When the Frenchmen beheld 
the wonderful view of wide plains with glistening rivers 
and green forests, they were greatly pleased. Cartier 
called this hill Mount Royal, from which the city of Mont- 
real received its name. 

Cartier decided to spend the winter on the banks of the 
St. Lawrence but before their fort was completely built, 
a terrible blizzard swept down upon them. Their ships 
were frozen in the ice and snow was piled in great drifts. 
The Frenchmen suffered from the intense cold and they 
huddled together in their little fort, A sickness, called the 
scurvy, broke out amongst them and almost a hundred of 



I30 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

their number died in a short time. An Indian visited them 
one day and said that they might be cured if they drank 
the tea made from the leaves of a tree which grew nearby. 
Immediately the sick sailors rushed forth and with their 
axes chopped down the tree. So eagerly did they drink 
the tea that in six days the large tree was used up for 
medicine. 

When spring came, Cartier resolved to return to France. 
He built a large cross and placed it where his fort had 




Early Voyagers 

stood. Seizing Donacona and four other chiefs, Cartier 
made them prisoners on his ship and sailed away from the 
St. Lawrence. Within a month, the French vessels sailed 
once more into the harbor of St. Malo. 

Five years later, in 1541, Cartier again sailed to the 
St, Lawrence. The expedition was made ready by a French 
nobleman named Roberval. But Roberval stayed in 
France when the ships left and Cartier was captain- 
general. 



JACQUES CARTIER 131 

When Cartier met the Indians they asked : " Where are 
Donacona and our other chiefs whom you took away? " 

" They are dead," rephed Cartier. The chiefs had pined 
away and died soon after they had left their native for- 
ests. 

The Indians were very angry when they heard this and 
they no longer welcomed the French. In revenge, they at- 
tacked the French fort when Cartier was absent and killed 
many of his men. 

The expedition proved a failure and Cartier returned to 
France. But in 1543 he made another voyage to the St. 
Lawrence. After that, he returned to his home in St. 
Malo, where he died in 1577. 

Cartier won for France the land of Canada. Soon after 
his voyage fur-trading stations sprang up, but more than 
sixty years passed away before the coming of Champlain 
and the founding of the first settlement. 

OBEDIENCE 

If you 're told to do a thing, 
And mean to do it, really; 
Never let it be by halves ; 
Do it fully, freely ! 

Do not make a poor excuse. 
Waiting, weak, unsteady ; 
All obedience worth the name 
Must be prompt and ready. 

Phoebe Cary 



CHAMPLAIN 
1603 

Sixty-eight years had passed since the coming of Car- 
tier to the region of the St. Lawrence, when in 1603 an- 
other fleet flying the French flag sailed up the river. 

On the deck of one of the ships stood the commander 
talking with two Indians of the Algonquin tribe. He was 
a strong, straight man with the bearing of a soldier, for 
he had fought in the armies of France and Spain. His 
name was Samuel de Champlain. On the voyage from 
France he had learned the Indian language, and now he 
conversed with the two Indians. 

" See those tall cliffs," said one of the Indians as the 
boat passed a narrow place in the river; "that is called 
' Kebec ' which means ' a narrow place.' " 

" That would be a splendid site for a settlement," an- 
swered Champlain. " Some day I shall plant a colony 
there. But where is the village of Stadacona which Car- 
tier visited? " 

Soon they came to the site of the Indian village, but 
nothing of it remained. Still farther on, they arrived at the 
place where Hochelaga once stood, but the Indian tribe 
which had dwelt there had vanished and their log huts 
had disappeared. Only the vast woods remained. Cham- 

132 



CHAMPLAIN 



133 



plain spent much time in exploring the country and was 
delighted with the beauty of the wide-stretching forests. 

" Beyond is a great sea," said the Indians as they pointed 
toward the West. " Let us go. White man will be 
pleased." 

Champlain was very eager to see this body of water 
which the natives called " Ontario," for he thought that 





J 


*\ 


i 




^L 


i 


k 


m 



Samuel de Champlain 

it might be the Pacific Ocean. But when August came, 
Champlain hastened to return to France before the winter 
should overtake him. So with many rich furs purchased 
from the Indians he left the waters of the St. Lawrence. 
Champlain spent the winter at the court of the French 
King. While on his journeys, he had kept an account of 
all he had seen and from this diary he now wrote a book 



134 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

which he entitled " The Savages." It was a very interest- 
ing book for it told about the new land and described the 
life and customs of the Indians. 

Champlain resolved to plant a colony in the New World 
and so in 1604 he sailed once more from France. On this 
voyage, the explorers did not sail up the St. Lawrence, but 
passing the coast of Nova Scotia they came to the Bay 
of Fundy, into which flows the St. Croix River. It was 
here on an island in the St. Croix that Champlain decided 
to land. About eighty men came from the ships and soon 
all were at work. The woods echoed with the sound of 
their axes as they chopped down the tall trees and hewed 
them into suitaljle lengths for the building of their cabins. 
When their four houses were completed and a palisade had 
been built, the ships sailed back to France to return the next 
spring with more settlers and fresh supplies. 

The long dreary winter then set in, and the brave set- 
tlers suffered great hardships. The fierce wind drove the 
snow high up against the houses, the river was frozen, and 
the air was sharp with the keen frost. So cold was it that 
the French colonists could not long venture out from their 
houses, and even indoors the log fires could not keep out 
the chilly blasts. The scurvy broke out among the pent- 
up settlers, and during the five long months of that winter 
thirty-five men died and many were very ill. When the 
warm days of June came, the ships bringing fresh food 
arrived, and the colonists grew well and strong again. 

The settlers felt that their present colony was exposed 
too much to the storms of winter, so Champlain sought a 



CHAMPLAIN 135 

more sheltered spot. Crossing the Bay of Fundy, the 
French made a new settlement which they called Port 
Royal. Again they built log cabins, but this time they 
took care to make them snug and warm. 

In order to provide against the winter, Champlain es- 
tablished the " Order of Mirth." This was a merry com- 
pany composed of fifteen of the strongest hunters, the leader 
of whom was called the " Grand Master." When Cham- 
plain had chosen the men for the " Order of Mirth," he 
said : " It shall be your duty to provide us with meat 
which must always be fresh. You, Jean, shall be Grand 
Master to-day. To-morrow, Jacques, you shall be Grand 
Master, and so on until all have served in turn." 

The sturdy hunters liked this idea. During the day when 
the rest of the settlers worked about the place, the mem- 
bers of the Merry Order were busy hunting and fishing. 
When evening came, all were hungry and ready for din- 
ner. 

Into the hall the Grand Master would march, followed 
by his company who bore large, steaming platters of sweet- 
smelling meat and fish. After them came the settlers, and 
as they marched they sang the jovial songs of France. 
When the meal was over, pipes were lit and the colonists 
smoked in silence as one of their number told tales of ad- 
venture or roared in laughter at the witty things which 
were said. The Indians were frequent visitors and they 
would come and squat on the floor and watch with great 
enjoyment the antics of the French. 

Thus in merriment and hard work the winter was passed. 



136 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

While Champlain and a few of his men were away explor- 
ing the country, the colony was left in charge of a busy, 
bustling, man named Lescarbot. He was very pleasant and 
jovial, and the colonists liked to work for him. He taught 
them how to make bricks and to build brick furnaces. Under 
his direction, a water-mill was made for grinding corn and he 
showed the settlers how to get tar and turpentine from the 
sap of trees. During the next three years, many car- 
penters, masons, and blacksmiths arrived from France, and 
the colony grew very prosperous. 

In 1607 Champlain returned to France, and while he was 
there the King made him the Governor of New France. 
When he returned to Port Royal, he decided to seek a 
new place for the colony. He chose the narrow place in 
the St. Lawrence which the Indians had called " Kebec " 
and here in 1608, with the old colonists from Port Royal 
and new settlers from France, he founded the settlement of 
Quebec. 

Once again the colonists fell to work cutting down trees 
for their houses. While they were busily at work, Jean 
Duval, a rough blacksmith, plotted with some of the settlers 
to kill Champlain. When Champlain heard of this plot, 
he summoned Duval before him. Witnesses were heard, 
and Duval was declared guilty. Champlain ordered Duval 
to be hanged while his followers were sent to France where 
the King pardoned them at Champlain's request. 

The settlers had built three houses and around these they 
erected a wall to protect them from the attack of the Indians. 
The winter proved to be a very severe one and the settlers 



CHAMPLAIN 137 

siififerecl from the intense cold, while many died from sick- 
ness. 

The Algonquin Indians had been very friendly with 
Champlain; and when they asked Champlain to help them 
in their war with the Iroquois, Champlain agreed to assist 







Champlain fighting the Iroquois 

From Cliamplaiii's brmk, published iu 1613 

them. Because of his coat-of-mail, the Indians called 
Champlain the " Man-with-the-Iron-Breast." 

With a small body of sixty Frenchmen and Indians, 
Champlain set out in canoes against the hostile Iroquois. 
This tribe was the strongest nation among the Indians and 
was greatly feared by every other tribe. Champlain sailed 
up the Richelieu River until he came to a beautiful lake 
which was dotted with pretty islands. This lake he called 
" Lake Champlain." 



138 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

On the shores of this hike the French and Algonqtiins 
met the Iroquois. The Irocjuois had over two hundred 
warriors and with fearful yells they fell upon the little at- 
tacking force. But when the guns of Champlain and his 
men spoke out, the Iroquois turned and fled in terror. The 
Algonquins were proud because they had defeated their 
old enemies, the Iroquois. But the quarrel was very bad 
for the French settlers. From that time on the Iroquois 
were always the enemies of the French and for many years 
afterwards they attacked the French villages and murdered 
the inhabitants. 

Champlain spent many years in exploring the surround- 
ing country. He always kept an account of all the things 
he had seen, and made maps and charts of the places he 
visited. With the Indians as guides, he pushed his way 
west to Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. He also traxeled 
many miles over what is now New York State. 

All this time the settlement at Quebec was flourishing. 
Along the river many trading-posts had sprung up. So 
many inhabitants came to New France that in 161 1 the 
colony of Montreal was founded farther up the St. Law- 
rence. 

During the years that passed by, the colonies of New 
France grew large and prosperous. Champlain said that 
" the salvation of a single soul was worth more than the 
conquest of an Empire." So, in order to convert the In- 
dians, Champlain brought Catholic missionaries from 
France who went bravely among the savages teaching them 
to worshi]) God. 



CHAMPLAIN 139 

After a long life of hardship and toil in the new country 
which he loved so much, Champlain died in 1635 and was 
buried near the town of Quebec which he had founded 
and protected. Champlain was a fearless soldier who 
underwent many dangers in order to explore and settle 
" New France " as Canada was then called. He always 
treated the Indians justly and made them his friends. As 
a result of his work, the first permanent settlement was 
made in Canada. 



HAIL, COLUMBIA! 

Hail, Columbia ! happy land ! 

Hail, ye heroes, heav'n-born band ! 

Who fought and bled in Freedom's cause; 

And when the storm of war was gone, 

Enjoyed the peace your valor won ; 

Let independence be our boast, 

Ever mindful what it cost. 

Ever grateful for the prize, — 

Let its altar reach the skies. 

Firm united let us be, 
Rallying round our liberty ! 
As a band of brothers joined, 
Peace and safety we shall find. 

Immortal patriots, rise once more ! 
Defend your rights, defend your shore; 
Let no rude foe, with impious hand. 
Invade the shrine where sacred lies. 
Of toil and blood the well-earned prize; 
While offering peace sincere and just, 
In Heav'n we place a manly trust, 
That truth and justice shall prevail. 
And every scheme of bondage fail. 

Joseph Hopkins on 
140 



SIR WALTER RALEIGH 

1585 

Gay nobles, dressed in bright colors of satin and velvet, 
stood about as Queen Elizabeth walked from her castle 
toward the boat. Rain had fallen a short time before, and 
muddy pools were here and there in the street. 

At the crossing the Queen stopped before a muddy place, 
for she did not wish to spoil her pretty shoes. As she 
glanced about, a tall, handsome 
knight, dressed in a magnificent 
suit of satin and velvet, took his 
cloak from his shoulders. It was 
a most beautiful cloak of crimson 
and gold lace. With a graceful 
sweep, the knight laid it over 
the muddy crossing. The Queen 
with dainty steps walked over the 
cloak to dry ground on the other 
side. 

" Walter Raleigh, you are a 
most gracious knight," said the Queen as she smiled on the 
courtier. 

The Queen and her ladies then passed on to her boat. 
But Queen Elizabeth did not forget the kindness of Ral- 
eigh and one day she ordered him to come and see her. 

141 




Sir Walter Raleigh 



142 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

"I have heard much of you," said Queen Elizabeth; 
" you were born in Devonshire, I beheve, and you served 
gallantly in France and in Ireland with my troops. I wish 
to make you my adviser and I desire you to remain at 
court." 

Walter Raleigh was greatly pleased with the Queen's 
words. He loved the gay life of the court with its dances 
and balls and fine fashions. He was a very handsome 
man and by virtue of his courtly manners and pleasant 
character he became a o-reat favorite. 




Autograph of Queen Elizabeth 

But Raleigh w^as a deep thinker and a good statesman. 
One day he said to Queen Elizabeth : " Queen Elizabeth, 
many of our working-men cannot find work to do. Their 
pay is small and they are very poor. You have vast lands 
in America If they were inhabited by your subjects, you 
would be building a new English nation and gaining great 
wealth in commerce. Why cannot I send out colonists to 
live there? They would have plenty of land to cultivate; 
they could build homes and be happy." 

" You are right," answered the Queen ; '* I shall give you 
permission to send out colonists." 



SIR WALTER RALEIGH 143 

So Queen Elizabeth gave Raleigh a charter on March 
25th, 1584. It ahowed him to send out settlers to occupy 
the lands of America which were not actually possessed by 
any other Christian nation. These colonists were to have 
all the privileges enjoyed by the free citizens of England, 
while Raleigh was to have power to punish, pardon, and 
govern the people. The laws w^ere to be just like the laws 
of England. For these favors Queen Elizabeth required 
that one-fifth of all the treasure that was found should be 
given to her. 

Raleigh did not know whither to send his colonists, so 
in 1584 he despatched tw^o vessels to find a place suited 
for a colony. After sailing up and down the coast, the 
ships found a good harbor and anchored near the island 
of Roanoke. The sailors were delighted with the new 
land which abounded in grapes and beautiful plants and 
trees. 

So pleased were they that they spoke very highly of the 
place when they returned to Raleigh. The Queen heard 
Raleigh's report and she named the land " Virginia " in 
honor of herself because she was called the " Virgin 
Queen." 

It took a great amount of money to fit out an expedi- 
tion to colonize Virginia, but the Queen helped Raleigh 
to collect a sufficient amount of money for the work. In 
April 1585, the expedition was ready and sailed away with 
four hundred men on board. Raleigh did not go with the 
band of colonists, but remained at the Queen's court in 
England. Because of his great work in fitting out the 



144 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



expedition, Queen Elizabeth made Raleigh a knight with 
the title, Sir Walter Raleigh. 

After sailing around the West Indies, the colonists 
landed on Roanoke Island. Immediately all began to 
search for gold and no one would do the work of building 




Ai uki I'uri kalL-iyii 

Showing also the site of the home of Virginia Dare 

houses or growing crops. The colonists were very lazy and 
quarrelsome and soon made the Indians their enemies. 

A year passed and the colonists were discouraged and 
homesick. They had not provided food for themselves and 
the Indians refused to supply them with provisions. 

One day Sir Francis Drake appeared with food and news 



SIR WALTER RALEIGH 145 

from England. When he attempted to leave, the colonists 
left the island and returned with Drake to England. As 
Drake and the disheartened settlers sailed from the coast, 
a vessel from England bringing provisions and supplies, 
arrived at Roanoke only to find the place deserted. 

Thus was the first English colony in America a failure. 
But Raleigh was not discouraged and soon another ex- 
pedition was fitted out to make another attempt. John 
White was placed in command of a company of one hun- 
dred and fifty settlers. They sailed in April 1587, and 
landed on Roanoke Island. Durng the summer the colo- 
nists were busy building houses and planting corn and to- 
bacco. It was at this time that a baby-girl was born to the 
daughter of John White. Her name was Virginia Dare 
and she was the first English child born in America. 

When the winter was near at hand, and the supplies were 
low. Governor White called the colonists together. 

" Our supplies will soon give out," said Governor White. 
" I shall go to England and get more provisions and re- 
turn as soon as possible. If you should move from this is- 
land, put up a sign on a tree telling where I am to find 
you." 

Governor White then returned to England and left one 
hundred and seventeen colonists on Roanoke Island. When 
he reached England, there was great excitement and fear 
because of the Spanish Armada. No one cared about the 
tiny colony in Virginia, and Governor White could not find 
any one to help him. Two years passed before he again 
sailed to America, This time there were two ships but 



146 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Governor White was not in command ; he was only a pas- 
senger. 

The vessels reached Roanoke. All was quiet and still. 
The few houses were tottering in ruin, and weeds were 
growing in the gardens once kept l)y the colonists. When 
Governor White landed, he beheld a tree upon which was 
carved the name " Croatoan." This was an island a1)uut 
sixty miles away. The commander of the vessels refused to 
sail to Croatoan and, despite the prayers of Governor White, 
he steered his ships toward England. The colonists were 
never found. Five expeditions were sent out by Raleigh 
l)ut each returned with the same sad story. 

Again did the colony in Virginia end in failure. Raleigh 
spent a great fortune in his brave attempt to plant a colony 
in the New World. But while he was not successful him- 
self, he began a great work which was to end finally in suc- 
cess. 

While Queen Elizabeth lived, Raleigh was a great favor- 
ite at court and received many favors. But when Queen 
Elizabeth died in 1603 and James I became King, the ene- 
mies of Raleigh plotted against him more boldly. He was 
accused of treason and cast into prison. In 1618 Sir 
Walter Raleigh was tried and put to death. He lived long 
enough to see the colony of Jamestown grow in size and 
prosperityo 



DON'T GIVE UP 

If you 've tried and have not won, 

Never stop for crying; 
All that 's great and good is done 

Just by patient trying. 

Though young birds, in flying fall, 
Still their wings grow stronger; 

And the next time they can keep 
Up a little longer. 

Though the sturdy oak has known 

Many a blast that bowed her, 
She has risen again, and grown 

Loftier and prouder. 

If by easy work you beat. 

Who the more will prize you? 

Gaining victory from defeat. 
That 's the test that tries you ! 

Phoebe Gary 



H7 



CAPTAIN JOHN SAIITH AND VIRGINIA 

1607 

" I THINK Raleigh's idea of planting a colony in Amer- 
ica is splendid," said one of the traders of London to his 
fellow merchants. " Why, we can make great fortunes in 
a \ery short time. There are many laborers here who are 
out of work. They would be only too glad to join an ex- 
pedition to America. There they could build cities and 
send us valuable cargoes of lumber, iron, copper and gold. 
I think the scheme is worth trying." 

" So do I," spoke up another. " Let us organize a com- 
pany, obtain a charter from the King and as soon as possi- 
ble send out a number of settlers. Let us take up the work 
immediately." 

The plan met with a hearty response and a company of 
the most prosperous London merchants was formed. It 
was called the London Company. Before these merchants 
could get their plans completed, other English traders heard 
of the London Company's idea and they formed a rival 
company which they named the Plymouth Company. Both 
companies now asked King James for grants of land in 
America. 

" The King is desirous that colonies be planted in the 
West," said James I when he read their petitions. " I 

148 



CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA 149 

hereby give permission to colonize the land along the coast 
of America between the 34th and the 45th parallels, north 
latitude. To the Plymouth Company shall go the right to 
settle between the 41st and 45th parallels while the London 
Company shall colonize the country between the 34th and 
38th parallels." 

The London Company w^ere glad to receive this grant of 
land and began immediately to make preparations for send- 
ing out an expedition. Three small vessels of less than 
one hundred tons burden each were fitted out. 

On December 19, 1606, the fleet weighed anchor and 
sailed down the Thames. On board there were one hun- 
dred and five colonists, who were mostly adventurers and 
idlers, seeking to gain their fortunes. There were among 
them one mason, one blacksmith, four carpenters, and a 
barber. All the others were gentlemen who were not ac- 
customed to work and who had no intention of doing man- 
ual labor. Only one of their number was fitted for the 
difficult work of colonization. He was a stout-hearted man 
of twenty-eight, who had seen many parts of the world. 
He fully realized what lay before the colonists. He was 
brave, resolute and intelligent. His name was John Smith. 

Adverse winds dela3^ed the three ships and January came 
before the voyagers were out on the Atlantic. They sailed 
in a southwesterly direction and after passing around the 
West Indies, they turned north along the Atlantic coast. 
Here they were blown along by storms until finally after 
a voyage of four months, they entered the beautiful Chesa- 
peake Bay, April, 1607. To the points of land projecting 



ISO THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

into the bay, they gave the names of Cape Henry and Cape 
Charles. Beyond these capes stretched tlie most beautiful 
land they had ever seen; there were smiling meadows and 
tall trees while everywhere blossomed sweet flowers. 

Turning their vessels inland, the colonists came to a broad 
river wdiich they named the James River in honor of their 
King. About fifty miles up this river, they came upon a 







L 



An early picture of Jamestown 

long peninsula and here at a point between the York and 
the James Rivers, they landed, May 13, 1607, and began 
the work of building Jamestown or James City as they 
called their new town. 

The place was not suited for a settlement. The land 
was swampy and the air was fever laden. But the colonists 
thought it a favorable spot and soon all were at work, fell- 
ing trees and clearing the land for their tents. They found 



CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA 151 

the task a very trying one. They soon learned that chop- 
ping down trees and digging into the ground was very hard 
labor and they had no intention of doing such work. They 
made an attempt to plant vegetables but the proper time for 
seeding had passed and at harvest time when they needed 
food their gardens yielded very little. Moreover the set- 
tlers wished to make their fortunes quickly and instead of 
working they preferred to wander about seeking gold and 
precious stones. The men proved quarrelsome and un- 
manageable. As a result of all this, they were unprepared 
to meet the hardships of the winter, which soon came upon 
them. During that season they suffered great misery. 
The Indians proved unfriendly and the colonists were in 
such constant fear of attack that each man had to watch 
on every third night to prevent the place being surprised 
by the redskins. Many . were made ill by the fever from 
the marshes and from drinking bad water. The only food 
they had left to eat was some barley which had spoiled in 
the ships on the outward voyage. Before autumn more 
than half the settlement had died. 

Captain John Smith, who had been named as one of the 
council to rule the colony, now proved to be the only effi- 
cient man in the whole settlement. When he saw that the 
colonists were badly in need of food, he won over the In- 
dians along the James River and traded with them, giving 
chisels and trinkets in exchange for their corn. He or- 
dered all the settlers to help in the building of suitable 
houses to protect them from the hardships of the winter. 

When Smith saw that his men were housed properly and 



152 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



had enough corn to keep away famine, he left the settle- 
ment to explore the country. 

" Perhaps," he said, " one of these rivers may bring us 
to the western sea where lies China. At any rate, we will 
learn the nature of the land about us." 

With this idea in mind, Captain Smith sailed up the 
Chickahominy River, until it became too shallow for his 




boat. From there he crossed the wild country for twelve 
miles, with two redskins as guides. Suddenly, without 
warning, he was attacked by a larger force of Indians and 
his two guides were killed. Smith surrendered himself to 
the redskins who treated him with great respect. 

" You must come to our chief," said the leader of the 
party. " Powhatan is a mighty warrior." 

They traveled quickly to the York River where the chief 
had his encampment and here John Smith was led before 



CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA 153 

Powhatan. That great warrior was dressed in raccoon 
skins and wore many shining ornaments. He welcomed 
Captain Smith and had him eat from great platters con- 
taining different kinds of food. 

Smith, who was fond of telling romantic stories, tells 
us in a book which he afterwards wrote that Powhatan 
ordered him to be killed. Just when the explorer's head 




Pocaliontas 

was about to be cut off, Powhatan's little daughter Poca- 
hontas, a bright girl of twelve, begged for the Captain's 
life. Out of love for his daughter, Powhatan freed John 
Smith and gave him over to Pocahontas. 

This is a very pretty story but many doubt whether it 
really happened. At any rate, Captain Smith was in great 
danger. Powhatan did not like the coming of the white 
men and asked John Smith many questions. But Smith 
was not only brave; he was also sharp witted. He knew 



154 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

that the fate of the colony depended upon him and he had 
to act very carefully or the Indian Chief would put him to 
death. 

In order to make the redskins think that he had won- 
derful power, he showed them his compass. When they 
saw this strange looking object, with its arrow always 
pointing toward the north, they thought he was a " med- 
icine man " or person with supernatural powers. So de- 
lighted was Powhatan, that he wished to make Captain 
Smith a member of his tribe. But Smith was anxious to 
return to the colony. A few days later he obtained his 
freedom from Powhatan and set out for Jamestown with 
four Indians, two of whom carried supplies of corn. His 
exploration trip had lasted almost a month. It proved to 
be of great benefit for l)y it he won the friendship of the 
Indians, who helped the colonists in many ways. Smith 
also learned much about the new country. 

Shortly after his return, a ship bringing a new^ supply 
of emigrants arrived from England. They were one hun- 
dred and twenty in number and were mostly gentlemen 
and goldsmiths. They proved to Ije a quarrelsome set of 
adventurers whose only thought and aim was to find treas- 
ure. 

One day a colonist in looking about for treasure, came 
upon a pile of glittering earth. 

" Gold !■ Gold ! " exclaimed the new settler, rushing in 
after finding this shining earth. " I have found the treas- 
ure." 

Every one rushed forth to get the gold and soon " there 



CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA 155 

was no talk, no hope, no work, but dig gold, wash gold, 
refine gold, load gold." 

" Why, that is n't gold," exclaimed John Smith, on see- 
ing what they thought was gold. " You 've been deceived. 
That 's Fools' gold." 

The excited colonists paid no attention to him and hastily 
loaded a vessel with the " gold." They carried the cargo 
to England only to find that Captain Smith had been cor- 
rect. It was worthless earth. 

Smith now left the colony because he did not like the 
way in which things were being done. He wished to 
explore the Chesapeake and the surrounding country. 
After making two voyages up the Chesapeake, he reached 
the Susquehanna River. He also explored the Potomac. 
From the knowledge thus gained of the country. Smith 
was able to draw a map, which he sent to London. This 
map was correctly drawn and was the first means whereby 
any accurate knowledge was gained concerning the geogra- 
phy of the new country. 

When in September, 1608, Captain Smith returned to 
Jamestown he was chosen governor of the colony. Things 
had not been going well and Smith resolved to change the 
existing conditions. Up to this time, all the men had taken 
their supplies from a common store-house. The lazy as 
well as the thrifty were thus cared for in ecjual manner. 

" Now, hereafter," said Captain Smith, '' if a man does 
not work, he shall not eat. Every one must work six hours 
a day." 

He enforced this rule strictly and soon improved the 



156 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

condition of the colony. The men learned to use the ax 
and hoe and to labor diligently. Two Indians who were 
brought to the settlement taught the colonists how to raise 
maize. Within a short time, thirty or forty acres of land 
were under cultivation. So well did Captain Smith man- 
age affairs that during his time of office, he built up the 
colony and made it a prosperous settlement. 

One day, a bag of powder exploded and Captain Smith 
was severely wounded. Fearing lest the wound might 
prove fatal he hastened to England in 1609. Without his 
powerful hand to guide them, the settlers became careless 
and shiftless. The winter of 1609— 1610 proved a terrible 
one. The settlers had failed to lay in a store of provisions 
and soon famine was upon them. So awful was the suffer- 
ing that out of over five hundred colonists only sixty were 
alive the following June when help came from England. 

Captain Smith made another voyage to America. In 
1614, with two vessels, he explored the coast between Cape 
Cod and the Penobscot. Returning to England, he drew 
a map of the coast line and wrote a number of books 
about the new world. After many exciting adventures in 
England, he died there in 1632. 

The colony in Virginia suffered greatly for want of a 
great leader like John Smith. The few who w^ere left 
after the terrible winter of 1610 were on their way back 
to England when they were met by a fleet of seven ships, 
having on board more than five hundred new colonists. 

The coming of the new colonists marked a change in 
the fortunes of Virginia. From now on the colony pros- 



CAPTAIX JOHN SMITH AND VIRGINIA 157 

perecl. ]\Ien saw that there was great wealth to be obtained 
but only by hartl work. Instead of wasting their time 
searching for gold, they cleared the land and planted many 
acres of corn. Strict laws of order were enforced. The 
colonists won over the friendship of the Indians who taught 
the white men how to raise corn and tobacco and how to 
use the canoe and the moccasin. This friendship was fur- 
ther strengthened when John Rolfe, a tobacco planter, mar- 
ried Pocahontas, the daughter of Pow'hatan. 

With the new colonists, there came a number of women, 
who made homes for their new husbands. So prosperous 
grew the colony of Virginia that before the Pilgrims left 
Holland in 1620, it possessed over four thousand inhab- 
itants, and had iron works, schools and great tobacco ware- 
houses. Tobacco raising became the princijjal industry and 
during one year the settlers sent to England over forty 
thousand pounds of this product. 

The founding of Virginia was begun under great hard- 
ships. Because the early settlers had not learned the great 
lesson that hard work is necessary for success, it seemed 
many times that the colony would end in dismal failure. 
But through the strong guidance of John Smith and other 
firm leaders, the foundation was strongly laid. By means 
of diligent toil, the settlers raised profitable crops of corn 
and tobacco until finally Virginia grew into a prosperous 
colony and gained great strength and power. 



MILES STANDISH AND THE COMING OF 
THE PILGRIMS 

1620 

In a little Dutch meeting-house in the old town of Ley- 
den, Holland, a band of English speaking people was 
gathered. There was a look of sadness on their faces, 
and as they prayed their voices seemed to tell of the long- 
ing W'hich was in their hearts. iVfter a time, one of their 
number arose and spoke. 

" Twelve long years have passed," he said, " since we left 
our native village in England. Because we did not like 
the forms of worship established by the Church of Eng- 
land, we and our brethern raised our voices in ol^jection. 
When we declared that the Church should be purified of 
many ceremonial forms, we received tlie name of Puritans. 
Then when we refused to pray in the manner ordered by 
the Church, we were fined and many of us imprisoned. 
Tliere was no freedom of \^•orship for us and we turned 
our faces toward another land. Across the sea lay Hol- 
land where all could find liberty. And so we left our be- 
loved land and became Pilgrims in a strange country that 
we might worship God as we wished. 

" Our days here have been happy but our hearts are 
now filled with apprehension. This land is not our land; 

158 



MILES STANDISH AND THE PILGRIMS 159 

these people are not our people. We are Englishmen and 
love our native country. But here our sons will forget 
the land of their fathers. They have had to study in the 
Dutch schools ; some have become soldiers and sailors un- 
der the Dutch flag. If we remain here, the day will come 
when our children will become Dutch and cease to be Eng- 
lish. 

" This must never be," continued the speaker proudly. 
" We are Pilgrims and must find a new home. Afar in 
the west lies the great land of America. There we can find 
freedom to worship God as we see fit ; there we can build 
our homes in peace and contentment. Let us go forth to 
this new land of Freedom." 

The Pilgrims were deeply moved by these words. They 
considered the plan a good one and they resolved to act 
at once. John Carver and Richard Cushman left in 161 7 
for England to lay their plan of colonization before the 
London Company. 

The London Company granted the Pilgrims permission 
to settle in America, and gave them a charter of liberties, 
according to which they were to govern themselves and to 
worship in their own way. 

The Pilgrims rejoiced at their good fortune and pre- 
pared to leave their adopted country. 

" We are industrious and frugal," they said. " We can 
bear the hardships of a strange land. It is not with us as 
with men whom small things can discourage." 

Two ships were made ready for the voyage, the May- 
flozccr^ a boat of one hundred and eighty tons, and the 



i6o THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Speedwell, a smaller and less seaworthy. In Jnly, 1620, 
after long farewells to their friends in Holland, the Pil- 
grims embarked and left the harbor of Delf Haven, near 
Leyden. 

They turned their ships toward England where other 
Pilgrims were to join the expedition. In August the little 
band of one hundred and two Pilgrims, men and women, 
some young, some old, left Southampton. But the Speed- 
well proved unseaworthy and twice they were compelled to 
return to port. Finally all w'ere placed on board the May- 
flozcer and on September 6, 1620, the sturdy Pilgrims bade 
a last farewell to their native shores. 

The voyage was a stormy one and sixty-three days 
passed before the Pilgrims saw land. They had planned 
to settle near the Hudson but the winds had borne them 
northward and on November 9th they entered the harbor 
of Cape Cod. 

Before the voyagers landed on the bleak, wintry coast 
which lay before them the men, who numbered forty-one, 
gathered in the cabin of the Mayflower and there drew up 
and signed a document which gave every one liberty and 
equal rights. It was the first constitution ever drawn up 
in /\merica. At the same meeting the colonists elected 
John Carver governor. 

Although the Pilgrims had reached New England in 
early November, a whole month passed before they chose 
a place for settlement. They had great difficulty in trying 
to land and the men were exposed many times to the cold. 
As a result, a great number became ill and were brought 



MILES STANDISH AND THE PILGRIMS i6i 



down with fever. Finally a landing was made and an 
exploring party of twenty under Captain Miles Standish, 
a sturdy warrior, set forth to examine the country. They 
carried flint lock guns and swords and wore steel helmets 




A map of New England made by Captain John Smith 

and breastplates. They were attacked once by Indians but 
the redskins were easily frightened away. 

After many days spent in seeking a suitable place for 
their homes, the Pilgrims determined to build their settle- 
ment on the hill rising above the harbor opposite Cape Cod. 
Hither the Mayflower sailed and on December 29th, the 
Pilgrims landed on the rocky shore which they called 
Plymouth. 



i62 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

There \vas little there to cheer the colonists. Their food 
supply was almost gone and they had no homes in that 
wilderness nor any place in which to find shelter from the 
harshness of the winter. But tliey were sturdy and brave 
and soon all the men were at work cutting down trees 
and building log cabins. The children helped their fathers 
by tending the fires which were kept burning to give 
warmth. 

All during the month of February, they labored and 
svicceeded in erecting a fort and seven houses. To protect 
them, Miles Standish organized a band of soldiers whose 
duty it was to safeguard the colony. But no dangers 
arose from the attack of enemies. They had greater trou- 
bles than these. The winter proved very severe and many 
of the Pilgrims died. Great was their misfortune for 
during the next month forty-seven of them died, yet so 
firm was their courage and resolution to build their homes 
here that not a single person left Plymouth when the May- 
flozver returned to England on April 15th. 

With the coming of March, the sweet winds of spring 
brought gladness to the hearts of the Pilgrims. So af- 
flicted had they been that at times the people alive were 
hardly able to bury their dead and at one time only seven 
w-ere well and strong. Now they looked forward to hap- 
pier days. 

One day in the middle of March, the colonists were sur- 
prised when an Indian carrying a bow and some arrows 
entered their settlement. As he approached, he spoke in 
English. 



MILES STANDISH AND THE PILGRIMS 163 

'' Welcome, Englishmen, welcome," were the redskin's 
words. 

The Pilgrims gathered about the Visitor in wonder. They 
learned from him that he was the envoy of Massassoit, 
chief of the Wanpanoags, a tribe that dwelt near the Prov- 
idence River. Samoset, for such was the Indian's name, 
told the colonists that his chief wished to be friends with 
the English. He also told them the story of the land about 
Plymouth. 

In a few days Samoset returned with five other warriors 
and Squanto — a redskin who knew English well. The 
visitors were friendly and told the colonists that Massassoit 
was coming to visit the English. 

At first the settlers feared lest the Indian chief might 
cause trouble but Captain Standish reassured them that 
he and his soldiers would protect all from harm. When 
Massassoit arrived with his band of warriors, he showed 
the white men that he wished to be their friend. The Pil- 
grims received him kindly and entered into a treaty of 
peace wliich was kept for over fifty years. 

The friendship thus obtained was of great value to the 
colonists. Scjuanto and the warriors of Massassoit taught 
them how^ to plant corn and to help its growth by burying 
a fish with the seed. They showed them also how to fish 
without hooks and how to hunt the game which roamed 
the forests. 

The Narragansett tribe were enemies of Massassoit and 
when he formed a treaty of peace with the English, Ca- 
nonicus, their chief, was very angry. One day he sent a 



i64 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

bundle of arrows, wrapped in a rattlesnake skin, to the colo- 
nists. Bradford, who had been made governor on the 
death of John Carver, received this message of war. 

" If Canonicus desires war," said Bradford, " he shall 
have it." Taking the arrows from the skin, he filled it with 
ball and powder and sent it to Canonicus. 

" We are ready for war, if you wish war," was the mes- 
sage brought to the chief. When the hostile warrior saw 
that the English were serious, he sued for peace and became 
their friend. 

The first year proved very disastrous for the settlers. 
But they bravely faced the hardships which they had to 
endure. In the spring, they planted corn over the graves 
of those that had died lest the Indians see how few were 
left. The summer days brought health and strength to the 
sick and soon all were at work, l)uilding better homes and 
cultivating their gardens. In early fall, two ships from 
England brought thirty-five new settlers and stores of pro- 
visions. The new colonists did much toward building up 
Plymouth and from now on the settlement grew and pros- 
pered. Before 1630 more than three hundred people had 
found new homes on the shores of New England. 

Captain Miles Standish proved a great help to the strug- 
gling colonists. To him they always looked for protection 
and never did he fail in his duty. He organi;^ed a small 
force of men who were prepared at all times to safeguard 
the lives of the settlers. Later when the colony grew 
larger. Captain Standish founded the town of Duxbury, 
which lay nine miles north of Plymouth. Even then he 



MILES STANDISH AND THE PILGRIMS 165 

was the protector of Plymouth and in 1637 defended his 
people against the attacks of the Pequots. This tribe hated 
the white men because they saw the colonists building new 
towns and taking the redskins' lands. In revenge they 
murdered the English and burned their houses and crops. 
The trouble ended when a force of two hundred colonists 
marched against the Indians and killed over six hundred 
of their number. After this the colonists had peace for 
almost fifty years. In 1665 Captain Standish died, 
mourned by all. 

The settlement in New England was made by the Pil- 
grims, who came to that rocky coast in search of freedom 
and liberty. They faced many dangers and suffered many 
hardships. But their courage made them victors. The 
colony at Plymouth was the cornerstone of the mighty 
Republic which was to be established in after years. 



THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS IN 
NEW ENGLAND 

The breaking waxes dashed high 

On a stern and rock-bound coast, 
And the woods against a stormy sky 

Their giant branches tossed ; 
And the heavy night liung dark 

The hills and waters o'er, 
When a band of exiles moored their bark 

On the wild New England shore. 

Not as the conqueror comes, 

They, the true-hearted, came; 
Not with the roll of the stirring drums. 

And the trumpet that sings of fame; 
Not as the flying come, 

In silence and in fear ; — 
They shook the depths of the desert gloom 

With their hymns of lofty cheer. 

Amidst the storm they sang, 

And the stars heard, and the sea ; 
And the sounding aisles of the dim wo(^ds rang 

To the anthem of the free! 
i66 



THE LANDING 167 

The ocean eagle soared 

From his nest by the white wave's foam. 
And the rocking pines of the forest roared — 

This was their welcome home ! 

There were men with hoary hair 

Amidst that pilgrim band; 
Why had they come to wither there, 

Away from their childhood's land? 
There was woman's fearless eye, 

Lit by her deep love's truth ; 
There was manhood's brow serenely high, 

And the fiery heart of youth. 

What sought they thus afar? 

Bright jewels of the mine? 
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? — 

They sought a faith's pure shrine! 
Ay, call it holy ground, 

The soil where first they trod. 
They have left unstained what there they found 

Freedom to worship God. 

Felicia Dorothea Hemans. 



JOHN WINTHROP AND THE SETTLEMENT OF 

BOSTON 

1630 

In 1603 James I ascended the English throne. He was 
a determined and haughty monarch. 

" There shall be only one church in my country," he de- 
clared as soon as he became king. " That church shall be 
the Established Church of England. Every person who 
does not attend it shall be thrown into prison until he 
changes his views." 

Thereupon the King had very severe laws passed, inflict- 
ing heavy punishments upon all who refused to worship as 
he commanded. Soon news was brought that a number of 
people had refused to attend the b^stablished Church. 

" We cannot go to your service," they exclaimed. " Be- 
fore we can do what you wish, you must purify the Estab- 
lished Church — you must stop the use of the prayer-book, 
the wearing of robes, abolish the altar and also the ring in 
the marriage ceremony. Until you do these things we can- 
not obey." 

Thus because they wished to purify the Church, these 
people received the name of Puritans. 

" Ji the Puritans do not obey." exclaimed James angrily, 

" I will harry them out of the land or else do worse." 

168 




THE PURITAN 

Statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens 



I70 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

The Puritans still refused to attend the Church of Eng- 
land and as a consequence they suffered imprisonment and 
other grievous punishments. Finally some left England 
and found freedom of religion on the shores of Holland. 
These were the Pilgrims who left Leyden in 1620 and settled 
at Plymouth. 

When the news of the Plymouth colony's success reached 
England, the Puritans were roused to action. 

" We cannot remain here," spoke up one of their leaders. 
" Let us seek freedom in America." 

This plan found favor among the Puritans who now has- 
tened to leave their native land. From the King they oh- 
tained a charter and organized the " Company of Massa- 
chusetts Bay in New England." John Winthrop, a stern, 
unbending man of firm religious beliefs, was to be governor 
of the colony. 

In March, 1630, eleven ships, among them the Mayflozver, 
sailed from Southampton with about one thousand Puri- 
tans. It was the largest number of settlers that had left 
England to seek homes in the new world. 

The Puritans, under Governor Winthrop, were well 
equii)ped for their work. Many of their number were 
wealthy, educated men who had studied at Oxford or Cam- 
bridge, while others were surgeons, ministers, engineers 
and surveyors. Besides, they had among them carpenters, 
gardeners, stone cutters and iron workers. 

The ships contained everything necessary for the col- 
onists' welfare. There were supplies of seed and grain. 



JOHN WINTHROP 



171 



implements for culti\ating the land, fishing nets and weapons 
and ammunition for defense. 

It was a beautiful day in June, 1630 when the fleet, headed 
by the Arabella, dropped anchor in the harbor of Salem. 
The inhabitants of this little town which had been founded 
by John Endicott in 1628. received the Puritans in hearty 




Governor John Winthrop 

welcome. But Governor Winthrop did not care to settle 
at Salem and sought about for a more suitable place for his 
colony. 

The Puritans decided to build their homes on the banks 
of the Charles River but after a settlement had been made 
and given the name of Charlestown, sickness broke out 
through the drinking of bad water. Across the Charles on 



172 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

a narrow peninsula which the Inchans cahed Shaw-mut, 
there rose tliree hihs. rich in i2;'reen fields and running water. 
The I*uritans named this neck of land Tremont. There 
many built their homes. They called their colony Boston 
after the old town of that name in England. Others settled 
at different places nearby ; some at Maiden, others at Water- 
town and Roxbury and some at Dorchester. These little 
settlements quickly prospered and soon became sturdy New 
England towns. 

The first winter at Boston proved a severe one. Before 
February came, the supply of grain had been exhausted and 
famine threatened. The colonists were compelled to eat 
shell-fish and even acorns. When starvation was at hand, 
the glad news was brought of the arrival of a ship from 
England, bearing supplies. So glad were the Puritans that 
a day was set apart for puljlic thanksgi\'ing, when the peo- 
ple gathered together and offered up prayers for their sah'a- 
tion. 

The settlement of New England differed from that of 
Virginia. In the south, tlie colonists held great tracts of 
land called plantations. They were far removed from their 
neighbors and seldom visited the town. In Massachusetts, 
the people were gathered closely together in small towns. 
Each town had its meeting house where divine service was 
held and public meetings took place. Around this meeting 
house, the homes of the colonists were built, facing the 
street which ran through the town. Farther back were the 
gardens and farms where were planted vegetables and grain. 
Many of the houses were well built of stone or brick and 



JOHN WINTHROP 



173 



were protected against attack by a blockhouse which over- 
looked the settlement. 

The Puritans realized that education was very necessary 
and in 1635 they established the Boston Latin School. To 
provide higher education, a college was founded in 1636 at 
Cambridge, and when John Harvard died and left his large 
library and three thousand dollars to the college, the colonists 




Harvard College in 1726 



named it Harvard in his memory. Every settler had to con- 
tribute a measure of corn each year for its support. 

The children of New England wore odd looking dresses. 
The boys wore skirts that reached to the ankles, and coats 
with great wide sleeves. Their shoes were moccasins, made 
by their mothers, while their caps had strings which were 
tied under their chins. The little girls wore loose fitting 



174 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

dresses of homes;!tin w itli a white handkerchief folded across 
their breasts. Tall, steeple-crowned hats were worn by the 
women and girls. The children had queer names, — there 
was Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, Oceantis Hopkins, 
Peregrine White, Love Brewster, Wrestling Brewster, and 
Remember Allerton. 

In 1630 when Governor Winthrop's term of ofifice had ex- 
pired, the members of the settlements met in assembly, to en- 
act laws for the government of the colony. This was the 
General Court and was the first meeting of its kind in 
America. Many of the laws passed now seem harsh and 
even cruel. Wrong-doing was punished by pillory or the 
stocks. Here the guilty person was bound by the ankles 
while above him was placed a notice, telling of the wrong 
committed. Many offenders were whipped at the whipping- 
post in the public square. Other serious penalties were also 
inflicted. 

The Puritans had come to New England to establish the 
Puritan Church. Although they had suffered persecution 
for religion's sake, they had not learned the lesson of true 
liberty. They established laws which forbade any one but 
Puritans from settling in their colony, and dire punishments 
were laid upon those of other beliefs who entered Boston. 
Even the Pilgrims were subjected to persecution while many 
Quakers were banished, some imprisoned and others hanged. 

In 1 63 1 there came to Massachusetts, Roger Williams, a 
Welsh minister. He thought that every one should be al- 
lowed to worship according to his own conscience. His 
noble nature was shocked by the narrow and bigoted laws 



JOHN WINTHROP 175 

of the Puritans. When he attempted to preach his doctrine 
of reHgious freedom, the colonists drove him forth from 
the colony in the dead of winter. 

Alone and without food, Roger Williams wandered 
through the desolate woods until he reached the village of 



Autograph of Roger Williams 

the Indians. The redskins welcomed him and gave him 
shelter during the winter. In the spring Williams set forth 
again and came to the territory of the Narragansetts from 
whom he purchased a tract of land. Here in 1638, he and 
five companions built homes and in thanksgiving to God 
called their colony Providence. It was the first settlement 
in Rhode Island. 

As he had suffered for religion's sake, Roger Williams re- 
solved that Providence should always offer perfect liberty 
to all ; that there all could find an asylum and freedom from 
persecution. So noble was Roger Williams that he thought 
rather of the welfare of others than of himself. " He re- 
served to himself not one foot of land, not one tittle of polit- 
ical power, more than he granted to servants and strangers. 
He gave away his lands and other estate to them that he 
thought were most in w'ant, until he gave away all." Provi- 



176 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



dence under R^f^er Williams' kind and generous government 
grew and prospered and finally it took its place among the 
original states of our Union. 

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was ruled wisely though 
sternly by John Winthrop and the General Court. Many 
immigrants were attracted to New^ England by the prosperity 
of the colonists and within ten years, the population rose to 
about 16,000. In 1692 riymouth became a part of the 




Old Narragansctt Church 

Massachusetts colony and the great New England settle- 
ment, now consisting of o\'er thirty-five towns which elected 
members to the General Court, received the name of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Because of religious persecution in England, the Puritans 
followed in the footsteps of the Pilgrims and sought free- 
dom in America in 1630. The colonists were men of learn- 
ing and endowed with firm principles. Under John Win- 
throp, who was governor for twenty years, the colony grew 
in size and wealth until it was the largest in America. 



THE DUTCH AND THE NEW NETHERLAND 

1613 

" Ho! Van Bliim, have you heard the news? " asked one 
citizen of Amsterdam of his neighbor who was passing. 
Both were dressed in doublet and knickerbockers and wore 
high-crowned, wide hats and wooden shoes. Their hair 
was long and fell in ringlets on their wide white collars. 

"What news, friend Van der Van?" questioned Van 
Blum. 

" Our burgomaster has just received word from Eng- 
land." replied the other. " Henry Hudson, who sailed in 
the Half Moon under our East India Company's flag, has 
arrived in England and he brings word of a wonderful river 
he has found. It flows through a most beautiful country 
which abounds in game and fish. The furs that can be ob- 
tained there will make our Company rich." 

" Does that river lead to the East? " asked Van Blum. 

" No ! That is the sad part," answered his friend. " It 
is only an inland river." 

'' Ha ! Then Hudson's work will be of little use to the 
East India Company. They are not interested in furs," 
declared the neighbor. " You will see that they do not 
care for such a country. Ah! I must go to attend to my 
tulips. Such black ones I have — Good-by." 

177 



178 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

Within a short time it was seen that the citizen \vas cor- 
rect. The East India Company was pleased that Ilndson 
had found such a fertile country and had thus added to 
Holland's possessions. But they cared little for the new 
land because it did not offer opportunities for the develop- 
ment of their commerce. 

Although the East India Company lost interest in the 
country visited by Hudson, there were others who realized its 
value. 

" Here is a splendid opportunity to build up a rich fur 
trade," exclaimed some of the shrewd Dutch merchants. 
" We can send out men to America to purchase skins from 
the Indians. These alone will bring high prices. Then, 
too, settlements might be made and rich colonies formed. 
We must not miss this fine chance." 

The Amsterdam merchants realized tlic truth of all this 
and immediately they formed the New Netherland Com- 
pany. The aim of this new company was not to plant col- 
onies so much as it was to establish trading posts and enter 
into commerce with the Indians. 

Therefore, in 1641 five vessels, bearing traders, lett Am- 
sterdam to explore the country which the Dutch now named 
New Netherland. These voyagers were also to buy skins 
from the natives and to erect trading stations at convenient 
points. 

The Tiger, which was commanded by Captain Block, 
burned while anchored near the island of Manhattan and 
here Block and his men built homes for the winter. The 
Other traders went farther up the Hudson and established 



THE DUTCH AND NEW NETHERLAND 179 

a trading post on an island near where now stands Albany. 
A fort was built and garrisoned with fourteen men. It 
was named Fort Nassau. Not long after, the Dutch moved 
their possessions to the mainland near the junction of the 
Mohawk and the Hudson. Another fort was erected which 
received the name of Fort Orange. It was the first settle- 
ment of what is now Albany. 

After a period of three years the charter of the New 
Netherland Company expired and The West India Com- 
pany was granted a new charter which extended to the mem- 
bers the right to colonize the country of New Netherland. 
This work of colonization was taken up immediately and in 
1623 the Nc-zv Netherland brought out thirty families. 
Some of these sturdy people settled on Manhattan while 
others found homes under the protection of Fort Orange. 
The Indians were treated justly by the honest Dutch set- 
tlers and treaties of peace were signed between the two 
races. The Dutch and Indians kept sacred this friendship 
which was never broken. 

Autograph of Peter Minuit 

During the next year other settlers left Holland for 
America and in May, 1626 Peter Minuit arrived to act as 
governor of the new province. He took up his abode on 
Manhattan. 

" As yet we have no right to this island," he said, soon 



i8o THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

after his arrival. " We must purchase it from the In- 
dians." 

So he arranged a meeting with the Indians and inquired 
what they wished in return for their land. 

" We do not want gold," said their chief. " Give us 
plenty of these." 

He pointed to the red cloth and trinkets and brass buttons 
which he had seen carried from the Dutch vessel. Peter 
Minuit agreed to this bargain and handed over goods worth 
sixty guilders or about twenty- four dollars in currency at 
that time. In return he received about twenty-two thou- 
sand acres. While the Dutch flag floated nearby, this sale 
was ratified. 

" We must treat our red-skin brothers justly," said Min- 
uet. " No settler can take up any land until he has first pur- 
chased it from the Indians." 

Peter Minuit proved a wise, courageous and mild ruler. 
Under his care, the settlement on Manhattan enjoyed peace. 
A windmill was erected for grinding corn, a storehouse also 
was built, while at the end of the island a fort was placed to 
guard the colony from attack. The Dutch were great home 
lovers and their houses were well built and cozy. Within 
doors, a huge fireplace gave forth comfort in winter and 
provided heat for the ovens which the good housewives used 
for baking bread and cookies. Above the fireplace were the 
pretty delft-blue dishes and pewter plates, which were kept 
as bright as silver. Outdoors were the gardens with tulip 
beds and rows of vegetables. Every hom^ was a model of 
cleanliness and comfort. 



THE DUTCH AND NEW NETHERLAND i8i 

Though the Dutch had found the country most pleasing, 
immigration was very slow and the colony did not grow in 
size. In order to encourage new settlers, the West India 
Company established the " patroon " system. Patroon is a 
Dutch word and means a lord of an estate. According to 
this plan of patroons, if a person, within four years, brought 
out fifty people over fifteen years of age to settle in New 
Netherland, he was granted sixteen miles of property on 
one side of the Hudson or eight miles on each side. After 
he purchased this land from the natives, the patroon became 
absolute master of the land and its inhabitants. In return 
he had to provide a school and church and assist the settler 
with tools. The settlers had no rights, except that of living 
on the land for they could not even fish or hunt without the 
patroon's permission. For ten years both the patroon and 
the settlers were to be free from taxes and were to be pro; 
tected by the soldiers of the colony. Some of the famous 
old patroon families were the Schuylers, the Van Renssa- 
laers, the Van Cortlandts and the Roosevelts. 

Under this system many colonists came to the New 
Netherland and settled along the Hudson, forming many 
busy towns and villages. Much of this progress was due to 
the work of Peter Minuet, but in 1632 he came into disfavor 
with the West India Company because he assisted the pa- 
troons in the fur trade which had been forbidden to them. 
As a result he was removed from office and returned to Hol- 
land. 

Minuit was succeeded by two governors who brought mis- 
fortune and trouble to the colony. Under Governor Kieft 



l82 



THE PERIOD OE DISCOVERY 



the friendship \\ hich had existed so long loetween the Dutch 
and the Indians was broken with serious results to both sides. 
The Raritans, a tribe of New- Jersey Indians, attacked Staten 
Island and a bloody war followed. While still at strife with 
the Raritans, Governor Kieft received w^ord that a number 
of Algonquins were hiding from their enemies, the Hurons. 
Despite all a(h'ice, he sent his soldiers against them and in 




New Anisterdam between 1630 and 1640 

a night attack the Indians were cruelly killed. This ruth- 
less act inflamed all the Indians and they gathered to slay 
the Dutch. Not a home was secure from destruction. The 
Dutch suffered severely and their governor had to sue for 
peace. 

A change for the better came when Kieft was recalled and 
a stern, fiery soldier was sent out in 1647 to rule the colony. 
His name was Peter Stuyvesant. In the Dutch wars he had 



THE DUTCH AND NEW NETHERLAND 183 

lost his leg and now wore a wooden leg, bound with silver. 
Because of this circumstance they called him " Old Silver- 
leo- " 

\Mien Stuy\'esant took up the reigns of government he 
faced a difficult task. The colonies had suffered long and 
grievously from the trouble with the Indians. The new gov- 
ernor settled the c^uarrel with the redskins and succeeded 
in undoing the bad work done by Kieft. 

But even greater troubles arose for Stuyvesant. Because 
of Hudson's discovery of the great river which bears his 
name, the Dutch claimed all the land between the Delaware 
on the south and the Connecticut River on the north. Soon 
the land along the Connecticut was taken over by English 
settlers. The Dutch viewed this colonization with alarm. 
At first they desired to declare war on the English but they 
realized that thev were too weak to attack the powerful 
colony of New England. Instead of entering into a bloody 
struggle, Stuyvesant made a compromise whereby the Eng- 
lish were to possess the land as far south as Greenwich. 

Further trouble arose in New Jersey. The Swedes had 
settled on the Delaware, calling their settlement Christina in 
honor of their queen. The Dutch built a fort on the land 
which the Swedes claimed and a struggle now took place. 
When the Swedes captured the Dutch fort, Stuyvesant at- 
tacked them with a force of seven hundred men and severely 
defeated them. As a result New Sweden became a part of 
New Netherland. 

Stuyvesant was a headstrong and hot-tempered man, who 
refused to be governed by anybody. The colonists felt that 



i84 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

they did not possess sufficient freedom under him and peti- 
tioned for greater Hberty and a larger share in the govern- 
ment of the colony. After a long and bitter quarrel, Stuy- 
vesant yielded and allowed the people to elect a counsel of 
eighteen who were to assist him in tlie management of af- 
fairs. But the people found Stuyvesant a stubborn man and 
there was continual strife between them. They called Stuy- 
vesant " Headstrong Peter." 




Peter StuysL^aiit 

The colony on Manhattan grew very prosperous because 
of its splendid position for trade and commerce. It had 
now about fifteen hundred inhabitants. The upper ex- 
tremity of the town reached what is now Wall Street. Here 
was built the wall which protected the settlement from at- 
tack by the Indians. The Bowery w'as a lane between Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant's farm and his house. In 1653 this colony 
which had received the name of New Amsterdam, was in- 
corporated as a city. 



}^-m^ 



THE DUTCH AND NEW NETHERLAND 185 

So well had New Netherland prospered that the English 
now looked upon the Dutch colony with eyes of envy. They 
desired this rich land in order that their colonies might con- 
trol the Atlantic Coast. So in 1664, although the English 
and Dutch were at peace, the colony of New Amsterdam was 
astonished when an English fleet under James, Duke of 
York, appeared and demanded immediate surrender. 

" We will never surrender," exclaimed Stuyvesant, stump- 

hi (KijrVa-nlt Iie;sr hvriei. 

. ^ PXTRUS: 5TUYVESANT , 

^ CaptainGenera^GovernorinChiefof AmstefT& nl 
tiNewNeflierland now caJIed.New-\Srk: I 
And{heDutchWe^Tn(Ii'alsIandsDie<rAJ)Jf^j| 
Aged 30 years. 

7jS 



Grave of Peter Stuyvesant, St. Mark's Cliurcli, New York City 

ing around in great anger. " I will not betray my masters, 
the West India Company." 

But the people saw that the English would destroy their 
homes if they did not surrender, and, accordingly, they 
refused to aid Stuyvesant in his resistance against the un- 
just demands of the English. The white flag of surrender 
was hoisted and the English took possession of New Nether- 
land. New Amsterdam became New York and Fort Orange 



i86 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

received the name of Albany. From that time on, the Eng- 
Hsh colonists stretched from Canada to Florida and the thir- 
teen colonies were separated by no foreign people. 

The settlement of New Netherland in 1613 was due to the 
energy and commercial activity of the Dutch. They were 
thrifty and industrious and under their rule New Amster- 
dam became a great trading place. But the Dutch were too 
weak to hold their possessions and England in 1664 seized 
their colony and raised over it the British flag which floated 
on high until the coming of the American flag, the Stars and 
Stripes. 

There 's always a river to cross, 

Always an effort to make, 
If there 's anything good to win. 

Any rich prize to take; 
Yonder 's the fruit we crave, 
Yonder the charming scene ; 
But deep and \\ ide, with a troubled tide, 

Is the river that lies between. 



THE CALVERTS AND MARVLAxND 

1634 

In 1629 there came to the colony at Jamestown, George 
Calvert and his band of followers. Calvert had held many 
positions of trust under King James and had been made 
Lord Baltimore because of his faithful service. Formerly 
he had been a member of the London Company and had 
helped in the work of colonizing Virginia. Later he be- 
came a Catholic, and was compelled to give up all the posi- 
tions of honor which he held. Now he sought a place where 
Catholics might escape the persecution which they, like the 
Puritans and Quakers, were suffering in England. 

" We have come from Newfoundland," said Calvert to 
the governor of Jamestown. "There at Avalon, we at- 
tempted to settle but the severe winter has driven us to seek 
shelter here." 

" You are welcome here," replied the official, " if you will 
take the oath to support the Church of England. Otherwise 
you cannot remain." 

" That I cannot do," replied Calvert proudly, " I am a 
Catholic and cannot support the Church of England." 

Greatly discouraged. Calvert was forced to leave Virginia 
and sailed away to England. He did not give up his plan 

187 



i88 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

to establish a place of refuge for persecuted Catholics. He 
now appealed to the King for a grant of land and obtained 
the territory lying on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. It 
was bounded on the south by the Potomac, and on the north 
by the 40° of latitude. This grant he called Maryland in 
honor of the queen. The King made Calvert the sole owner 




The first Lord Baltimore 

of the land, the only condition being that the new owner pay 
over to the King one-fifth of all the gold and silver which 
might l)e found. To show his homage, Calvert was to pay 
a rent of two Indian arrows every year. 

Just when this charter was being stamped with the royal 
seals, George Calvert died. The work was taken up by his 
son, Cecil Calvert, who became the second Lord Baltimore. 
In November, 1^)33, a company of three hundred settlers 
under Leonard Calvert, Lord Baltimore's brother, sailed 
from England, to colonize Maryland. They were earnest, 



THE CALVERTS AND MARYLAND 189 

industrious men who were well prepared to build new homes 
in the wilderness. 

It was February, 1634, before their two boats, the Ark 
and the Dove, sailed up the Potomac River. At an Indian 
town near the junction of the Potomac and the St. Mary 
Rivers, the colonists landed and began their settlement which 
they named St. Marys. From the Indians they purchased 
this ground and entered into lasting friendship with the red- 
skins. Here at St. Marys the colonists did not suffer any of 
the hardships encountered by the people of early Virginia or 
Massachusetts. The Indians taught them how to hunt game 
and to plant corn. The soil was so fertile that large, abun- 
dant crojis were grown. Some of the harvest was carried 
to Virginia and sold there to the people of Jamestown. 

The whole history of Maryland is marked by peace and 
contentment which was seldom broken. A quarrel occurred 
in 1635 over the boundary between Virginia and Maryland. 
William Clayborne, a Virginian settler, possessed Kent Is- 
land in the Chesapeake. From this place, he carried on a 
trade with the Indians. Lord Baltimore declared that this 
island belonged to Maryland and wished Clayborne to sub- 
mit to the rule of Maryland or else give up Kent Island. 

When Clayborne refused to do this, open warfare broke 
out and for many years the struggle was continued between 
Clayborne and Maryland. The trouble ended when Eng- 
land declared Kent Island to be part of Maryland. 

Another dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania 
came up concerning the boundary between these two colo- 
nies. But no real trouble followed because both settle- 



I90 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

mcMits agreed upon the line established by the two surveyors, 
Mason and Dixon, who were appointed to fix the boundary. 

The Cathohcs came to Maryland in order to find freedom 
to worship God as their conscience demanded. In the 
persecutions they had suffered because of their faith, they 
had learned the true lesson of religious liberty. So in 1649 
the people assembled in their legislature and passed the 
famous Toleration Act. According to this law, all Chris- 
tians were free to profess whatever religion they pleased 
and all could hold public office. A great historian has called 
this Act "the morning star of religious freedom." 

On account of the soil's fertility, many people were at- 
tracted to Maryland. Among the new settlers came many 
Puritans and other non-Catholics. Although the Catholics 
had settled Maryland and had granted freedom of worship 
to all, the Protestants who now had a majority took away 
this liberty and forbade the Catholics to worship or to pos- 
sess any rights in the colony. Lord Baltimore also was 
deprived of his land. Later, in 1658, Maryland was re- 
stored to the Cal verts and the Toleration Act again came 
into force. 

Maryland's growth was rapid. There never was a time 
of hardship or suffering and the people were at all times 
prosperous. The land was dix'ided into large plantations 
where great crops of tobacco and grain were raised. These 
two products brought great wealth to the colonists. They 
were a sociable people w'ho soon became famous for their 
hospitality. Their tables, loaded down with oysters, terra- 



THE CALVERTS AND MARYLAND 191 

pin and canvasback cincks from the eastern shore of the 
Chesapeake, became famed far and wide. 

Maryland remained the property of the Calverts until 
1692 when it was made a royal province. Later, in 1752, 
the land was restored to the descendants of Lord Baltimore, 
who possessed it until the days of the Revolution. 

Maryland was settled in 1634 by Catholics under the Cal- 
verts. They came to the shores of the Chesapeake, seek- 
ing a place where they might worship as they desired. By 
the great Toleration Act, freedom of religion was gi\'en to 
all Christians. The colony was happy and prosperous. 
Maryland lead the way in the march toward true freedom 
and liberty. 

Labor is man's great function. He is nothing, he can be 
nothing, he can achieve nothing, he can fulfill nothing, with- 
out labor. — ■ Dczvcy. 



Help the weak if you are strong, 
Love the old if you are young, 
Own a fault if you are wrong. 
If you are angry hold your tongue. 



PENNSYLVANIA 

1681 

In a fine old home in England, a young man sat, thinking 
deeply. He was dressed in a suit of sober gray and wore 
no ring or ornaments of any kind. Strong, well-built was 
he with full, noble face and deep, kind eyes. 

" Alas! my father is dead," he said, speaking aloud his 
thoughts. " I have caused him much sorrow, I fear. But 
he never understood how noble was the true religion of the 
Eriends. If he had only felt the faith I feel, he would have 
understood. But now he is gone. I care not for the money 
and estate he has left me. Wealth means nothing to me 
when I see my fellow Eriends thrown into prison, fined, ex- 
iled and cruelly persecuted because they act in ways accord- 
ing to their faith. I have suffered grievously so henceforth 
I shall devote my life and fortune to helping the cause of my 
fellow Quakers." 

Such were the words of William Penn at the time of his 
father's death. With this high resolution in mind, the zeal- 
ous Quaker set to work immediately. When he was study- 
ing at Oxford he had listened to a Quaker preacher and had 
been thrilled by the thoughts the Quaker expressed. At 
that very moment Penn embraced the beliefs of the Quakers. 
Then followed many trials and misfortunes. He was ex- 

192 



PENNSYLVANIA 193 

pelled from college for being a Quaker and his father was 
so displeased because his son had joined the despised sect 
that he drove William from home. Later he was cast into 
prison many times for preaching the doctrines of the 
Quakers. Now he was determined further to help their 
cause." 

*' This is my plan," said Penn to his fellows. " I shall 
f ^ 

i > 




William Penn 

ask the King to grant me the land lying north of Maryland 
and west of the Delaware River. Hither we shall go to 
take up new homes and live without fear of persecution." 

Charles II received William Penn's petition and gave 
it due consideration. The King owed sixteen thousand 
pounds to the estate of William's father and in return for 
this debt, he granted Penn a tract of land, three hundred 
miles long and two hundred and fifty miles wide. To this 



194 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

territory Penn gave the name of Sylvania or Woodland, but 
in honor of its new proprietor, it became known as Pennsyl- 
vania. 

As soon as this grant had been given, Penn, who had al- 
ready visited the Quakers in New Jersey, sent out a group 
of colonists in 1681 to build their homes in this new land. 
The Quakers were a peaceful, industrious people who be- 
lieved fervently in the doctrines laid down by their founder, 
George Fox. He organized the Society of Friends, who 
held that all religious forms and civil titles w^ere without 
meaning. Therefore they refused to listen to the ministers 
and paid homage to no person. They thought that all peo- 
ple were equal and they never took off their hats in honor to 
any one. Money and wealth they did not desire but they 
lived c|uietly and dressed in dark clothes of gray. They 
addressed each other as " thou and thee " and held that each 
should follow the Golden Rule. They were opposed to war 
and all forms of strife. 

Such were the Quakers who came to Pennsylvania in 
1 68 1. During the following year, ^^'illiam Penn himself 
came to his new lands and established the government which 
he called the Holy Experiment. The settlers were given the 
right to rule themselves and were treated justly. Under 
the Great Law of the Quakers, all sober and industrious per- 
sons found freedom and security. 

When Penn arrived, there was only one settlement in the 
new territory. This colony consisted of about five hun- 
dred Quakers, Swedes and Dutch, who crossed from New 
Jersey and settled on the present site of Chester. In March, 



PENNSYLVANIA 



195 



1683, William Penn beheld a beautiful stretch of land lying 
between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. 

" Here is a place not surpassed by any other," he said. 
" Let us build our city on this spot. Its citizens shall live 
in friendship and brotherly love. It shall be called Phila- 
delphia." 

Great care was taken in laying out this new city. The 




Quaker meeting house at Easton, Maryland. Built in 1684 
William Penn preached in it 



streets were made wide and straight and \vere given the 
names of the trees in the near by forests, such as Chestnut, 
Ash, Walnut and Spruce. Because of its splendid location 
for trading purposes, Philadelphia grew rapidly and in two 
years its population reached almost three thousand. To- 
day it is one of our most important cities and is a place of 
great culture and refinement. 

William Penn became a great friend of the Indians. Al- 



196 



THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 



though Charles II had granted him the land of Pennsyl- 
vania, Penn felt that he had no right to its possession until 
he received the consent of the Indians, whom he considered 
to be the real owners. So in 1683, he met the redskin chiefs 
in council. After words of kindness had Ijeen spoken, Penn 
purchased the land from the Indians and signed the great 




The Penn treaty tree at Shackamaxon 

treaty of brotherly love. This treaty provided " that the 
Indians and the English must live in love as long as the sun 
should give life." This splendid promise of friendship was 
never broken. 

The years passed peacefully for the colonists of Pennsyl- 
vania because they were ruled by laws just and considerate. 
Penn's justice was shown when the people in the " Lower 



PENNSYLVANIA 



197 



Counties on the Delaware " oljjected to being ruled by the 
people of Pennsylvania. Penn allowed them to form their 
own government and rule themselves as an independent 
colony. After the Revolution these people constituted the 
State of Delaware. 

A dispute arose between Penn and the Calverts of Mary- 
land concerning the boundary of the two colonies. But 
Penn settled the quarrel by having Mason and Dixon survey 




Philadelphia about 1760 



the land and draw a boundary line between Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. 

The later years of William Penn were troubled and filled 
with sorrow. Twice he was imprisoned through the 
wickedness of his enemies. He died in 1718 after a life of 
service for his fellowmen. 

Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by the Quakers or the 
Society of Friends. They were a peace-loving people who 
treated every one with kindness and consideration. To 
their land they welcomed all who were law-abiding and 
peaceful. Under their kind influence, Pennsylvania grew in 
prosperity and became one of the greatest of our States. 



198 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

IMPORTANT DATES 

1492 — Columbus 

1588 — Drake and Spanish Armada 

1 607 — Jamestown 

1609 — Hudson River 

1620 — Pilgrims 

1623 — 'Settlement of New Amsterdam 

1664 — English Conquest of New Amsterdam 



PART II 
CIVICS 



FOOD 

One bright Saturday afternoon Jack Brewster and his 
father walked along Riverside Drixe. They had passed 
Grant's Tomb and were strolling along looking out over the 
beautiful waters of the Hudson. 

" What a queer looking ship," exclaimed Jack. " Why 
it seems like a war A-essel — it is so strong looking." 

" That 's not a gunboat," laughed Mr. Brewster. " That 
is a sugar boat bringing a cargo from Louisiana. It is on 
its way to the refinery." 

*' From Louisiana?" exclaimed Jack. "That's a long 
ways for sugar to come here." 

" Why, no," said his father. " Our food travels farther 
distances than that at times. You see we are so crowded to- 
gether in this city that we cannot grow the things which go 
to make up our food supply. Now each railroad, running 
into New York, is a food carrier. The railroads from the 
West bring us cattle and meat from Chicago, flour from St. 
Paul and Minneapolis, and fruits from California. The 
trains coming in at Jersey City carry vegetables from Dela- 
ware, Maryland and New Jersey, while our own State fur- 
nishes milk, butter and cheese. Then the ships carry car- 
goes of sugar from Louisiana or Cuba, tea from China, 
fruits from the South and coffee from Brazil. You see we 



202 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

need all these helps for during last year the people of New 
York consumed almost five billion pounds of food." 

" Five billion pounds is a great amount," said Jack. " I 
can't imagine so much." 

" It is enormous," continued Mr. Brewster. " When I 
was a lioy things were different. Washington Market was 
the center of trade; here the food-stuffs were sold to the 
merchants. Now conditions have changed. The Sanitary 
Code and the Pure Food Law have since been established 
and great care is taken regarding our food. Not only must 
it be wholesome and pure ; it must also be prepared under 
sanitary conditions and the people who handle the food must 
be clean and healthy. 

" These laws are very necessary, for bad food means bad 
health. If we drink milk from diseased cows, we may be- 
come ill. If we eat decayed meat or poisonous coloring 
matter which is sometimes used in candy-making, we suffer 
seriously. These laws are enforced in two ways. If the 
food is carried from one state to another, the Federal Gov- 
ernment Food Inspectors watch to see that the Satiitary 
Code is strictly enforced. Thus if a New Jersey farmer 
sends to New York bob-veal, that is veal unfit for eating, he 
is prosecuted by the Federal Inspectors. 

" In New York we ha\'e the State Inspectors and also the 
inspectors from the Division of Food Inspection of the 
Board of Health." 

" If so much food comes into New York, there must be a 
great number of inspectors needed," said Jack. 

" There is a large force," replied Mr. Brewster. " This 



FOOD 



203 



division of the Board of Health consists of three medical 
inspectors, six veterinarians, fifty-six milk inspectors and 
forty inspectors of food. 

" The medical inspectors take care particularly to see that 
conditions under which our food is produced and handled 
are sanitary. They visit the barns in the country to see that 




Courtesy (f A 



United Stales meat inspectors 



the cows live in healthful places. They also work to pre- 
vent epidemics of cattle disease. This work is also done by 
the veterinarians. These are men who act as animal doc- 
tors. They examine the cows and pigs to see that they are 
fit to be killed and used as food. 

"The food itself is guarded by the food inspectors. 



204 THE PERIOD OP DISCOVERY 

These watchful servants are on the alert at all places where 
food is handled in large quantities, at the piers, the markets, 
the railroad terminals and at the places where cattle are 
killed and dressed. 

" All meat is carefully inspected. These inspectors visit 
the slaughter houses and make sure that the cattle are in fit 
condition to be killed for food. They also visit the storage 
houses to see if the conditions there are sanitary. Butcher- 
shops also are visited to prevent the selling of decayed 
meat. Fish is inspected when it leaves the ships and when 
it is sold in the markets. If the meat is not wholesome, if it 
is adulterated or preserved by harmful means, it is destroyed 
immediately by the food inspectors. 

" Bake-shops are carefully inspected. The bread and 
cake must be purely made. Bakers are forbidden to use 
poisonous colors, bad eggs or decayed fruit. If they are 
caught violating these very strict laws they are brought to 
court and severely fined. 

" Cold storage plants also are visited by the food in- 
spectors. If the eggs are not wholesome, they are de- 
stroyed. If the other food-stufTs are in a condition which 
makes them unfit for use, they too are destroyed. 

" Besides taking such great care to see that our food is 
cleanly prepared and kept in wholesome places, the inspec- 
tors carry food to the laboratories and there analyze it to see 
that it contains the proper ingredients. All food that is un- 
fit to be sold is destroyed. In one year twenty-four million 
pounds of food were destroyed by the food inspectors. 

" Tiie food that must be guarded most carefully is milk, 



FOOD 205 

because it is the food of babies and children. Besides milk 
carries disease A'ery readily if it is not carefully guarded 
from g-erms. This task of protecting our milk supply has 
been made a separate ^^■ork of the Health Department. 
Fifty-six inspectors are employed in milk inspection alone. 
They go to the country where the milk is obtained from the 
cows. They examine the cattle to see that they are free 
from disease, especially tuberculosis. They also make sure 
that the barns are well lighted and sanitary and that all the 
milk-pails, cans and bottles are thoroughly clean. 

" Milk has now been divided into three grades. Grade 
A is suitable for infants and children. This milk is certified 
and guaranteed to be absolutely pure. Grade B is pasteur- 
ized milk. This means that the milk which comes from se- 
lected cows is treated by a process which frees the milk from 
microbes, that is, carriers of disease. Grade C is milk that 
is suitable for cooking purposes. This is good milk but it 
is not protected as well as Grade A or Grade B." 

" I never thought there was so much care taken to pro-' 
tect our food," said Jack. " We receive a great deal of at- 
tention, don't we? " 

" Yes, we do," replied his father, " but it is very neces- 
sary. You see the food we eat supplies us with the energy 
with which to live and to work. If the food is not pure or 
is adulterated, its strength has been taken away and we do 
not receive the proper amount of nourishment. If the food 
is bad then we are made seriously ill. 

"If we must be careful to see that our houses are clean, 
we should be more careful about what goes into our bodies. 



2o6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

We sliould see that the stores where we buy onr food are 
well kept and are clean. The food itself should be whole- 
some, for bad food is worse than none at all." 



WATER 

" Jack," said Mr. Brewster, " I 'm going for a walk 
through the Park. Would you like to come ? " 

" Oh! Yes, I would," exclaimed Jack, jumping up from 
his book. " I '11 get my coat and hat right away." 

Jack was very eager to go because he and his father were 
the greatest of companions and the little fellow loved to 
hear the interesting stories which his father told him about 
the things they saw on their many walks. 

" Here I am, all ready," said Jack, returning with hat and 
coat, " I did n't keep you long, did I ? " 

" No, you 're very swift," laughed Mr. Brewster. " Now 
let 's start. I think the Park will be beautiful on this fine 
day." 

The tw^o started from their home and soon w^ere walking 
quickly along the winding paths of the Park. As they were 
passing the Reservoir, they stopped to w^atch the little waves 
the wind was making. 

" I 've been reading. Daddy, about the old Dutch settlers," 
said Jack. " It was a history book and it said that they had 
Avells from which they got their drinking water. Did n't 
they have reservoirs then ? " 

" No, not for some time," answered his father. " You 
know water is one of the most important things that are 

207 



2o8 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

necessary for life. We use it in so many different ways, for 
drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, for steam, as ice — in 
fact we could not get on without water, could we? " 

" No, we could n't," replied Jack. " But I never thought 
it was so important." 

" It is very important," continued Mr. Brewster. " The 
colonists in building their settlements always looked first to 
see if there was pure water nearby. Now the Dutch built 
wells as you said. Later the wells could not supply enough 
water and they built pipes of thick w-ood through which they 
led the water from some of the rivers north of the colony. 
Some day when we visit the Jumel Mansion or the Van 
Cortlandt House or Faunces Tavern, we will see the wooden 
jMpes the Dutch used. Parts of them have been preserved." 

" Did this way of bringing water to the people prove suc- 
cessful? " asked Jack. 

" Yes, for a time," replied Jack's father. " But as the 
years passed, new and greater sui)plies of water were needed 
and many changes had to be made. To-day our city uses 
five hundred million gallons of water every day. For many 
years we who live in Manhattan and The Bronx have been 
supplied by water carried through large pipes to our reser- 
voirs from Croton River, which runs through Westchester 
and Putnam counties. Brooklyn has had its reservoirs filled 
by other water from the wells and streams of Long Island 
while Queens and Richmond also ha\e their own separate 
supplies. 

" But even this great system was not able to supply enough 
water and in 1905 plans were made for building the great- 



2IO THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

est water system in the world. A Board of Water Supply 
was appointed and the members began the task of solving 
this problem. To-day the work is almost finished. When 
we get home we '11 take down our big map and see just where 
our water comes from." 

Jack and his father talked of many things on their walk. 
Later they turned homeward. In the evening Jack came to 
his father's study room. 

"Daddy, if you're not too busy," said Jack, " will you 
show me about our water supply ? " 

" Indeed, I will, replied his father. " Let 's get our map. 
Now, see, up here is Westchester County and here is Put- 
nam. We must find the Croton River. Yes, here it is. 
Right here is the great reservoir. Our city built this by 
erecting large walls called dams to hold the water. This 
reservoir covers two hundred and seventy acres, is thirty 
feet deep and can hold eight million gallons of water. 

" Here in this great reservoir and in a number of others 
near by the water is caught up and led through pipes, called 
an aqueduct, to the city. See, it runs along the eastern shore 
of the Hudson, down through Ossining and other West- 
chester towns until it reaches the Harlem. Across the Har- 
lem, the engineers built High Bridge, and this bridge holds 
the water pipes which lead the water to the reservoirs in 
Manhattan and The Bronx. From the reservoirs mains are 
laid which carry the water to our homes. 

" Now this system has proved too small. So, as I said, 
the Water Supply Board was appointed by the Mayor. 
This Board worked out the plan we will soon be using. 



WATER 211 

Let 's look at our map again and see if we can find Esopns 
Creek up in the Catskills." 

" Yes, here it is," said Jack. " It 's not far from Kings- 
ton." 

" That is correct," answered Mr. Brewster. " Here at 
Ashokan the engineers have constructed a reservoir which 
will hold one hundred and twenty billion gallons of w'ater. 
The Ashokan dam which will hold this enormous amount of 
water is the result of great engineering skill. Now let 's 
find the Rondout River. Yes, here it is. Here there will 
be another great reservoir while on the Schoharie and Cats- 
kill Creeks smaller ones are being constructed." 

" Will that water be brought all the w'ay down to us 
here ? " asked Jack in surprise. 

" Surely, it will," said his father. " They are now build- 
ing the aqueduct. It will carry the water to our reser- 
voirs, then pass under the East River to Brooklyn. After 
supplying Brooklyn it wdll continue from the southern end of 
that borough, under the Narrows to Staten Island. It will 
be fourteen feet high and one hundred and forty miles 
long." 

" My, it seems so great I can hardly believe it is true," ex- 
claimed Jack. " It must cost a great deal." 

" It is a wonderful work," said his father. " But, look 
Jack, it 's W'ay past your bed time. If you care to hear some 
more about our water, I '11 try to tell you the rest of the 
story to-morrow night." 

" I will surely come," said Jack as he said good-night to 
his father. 



THE COST OF OUR WATER SUPPLY 

" Daddy, I hope you 're not too busy to-night, are you? " 
asked Jack after supper. " You said you would tell me 
more about our water supply system." 

" Yes, let us finish that story," answered Jack's father. 
" I have time, too. Where were we at? " 

" You told me about the new reservoir at Ashokan and 
how large it was. I 've been wondering. Daddy, about all 
the money this work must cost. Does our city pay for it? " 

" Our city does pay for the building of the reservoirs 
and the laying of the water mains. All this work is placed 
in the hands of the men in the Water Supply Department. 
This department is composed of engineers, inspectors and 
construction men, who superintend new or repair work 
which may be necessary. 

" We people pay for the water we use. In some cities and 
towns the water is supplied by private business companies 
who charge so much each year for the water that they sup- 
ply. Here, our city taxes the property owners. H there is 
a great amount of water used, the owner has the water meas- 
ured by a water meter. He pays ten cents for every lOO 
cubic feet of water that is consumed. In almost ninety per- 
cent of the houses there is no need of a meter. The water 
tax is then assessed in yearly amounts according to the size 



THE COST OF OUR WATER SUPPLY 213 

of the house, its width, stories, number of faucets and num- 
ber of tenants. This tax is paid by the owner, who re- 
ceives the money in rent from the people Hving in the 
liouse. The tax collected each year amounts to more than 
thirteen million dollars." 

"Then we really pay for all the water we use?" asked 
Jack in surprise. " Why I thought water was free." 

" No, it is n't free," replied Mr. Brewster. " But the 
charge is very small, compared with the great benefits we get 
from water. It would be very difficult to live, if we did not 
have pure water. It is the duty of the City to see that the 
water is free from disease germs. If the water carries dis- 
ease many thousands might be made sick. The greatest 
danger is from typhoid fever which is spread by drinking 
of impure water. At all times we should be very careful of 
our water, especially when we are in the country. Rain 
water which is caught in reservoirs is safe for drinking and 
so is most of the ground water, that is water from springs 
or wells. Even here great care must be taken to make sure 
that the springs are far from dwellings or places of con- 
tamination. Surface water or water from rivers, lakes or 
ponds, very often contains typhoid germs and should be 
made pure before it is used." 

"But how can people make the water pure?" inquired 
Jack. 

" Why, that is very easily done," said Mr. Brewster. 
" Microbes or germs cannot live at a high temperature, so 
when we boil water carefully all the dangers from the germs 
is removed. Water that is boiled in this way is called dis- 



214 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

tilled water. Freezing, though, does not kill microbes. It 
just puts them to sleep and they awake just as soon as the 
ice melts. So you see we should be very careful not to eat 
impure ice or put it in the water we intend to drink. 

" We can be sure that the water the city supplies us is 
pure, for the men in charge of the supply are very careful. 
We in turn should not waste the water for if everybody was 
careless, the supply of water might give out and there 
would be a water famine. We should be sure to turn off the 
water faucets tightly when we finish, and if they leak or 
drip, we should report the matter to the Water Depart- 
ment. All leaks should be attended to at once. 

" While we should not waste water, we should use it as 
often as possible. Frequent bathing keeps our bodies 
clean and gives us new strength. No disease is likely to 
visit a home where the floors are scrubbed and water is used 
plentifully for cleaning the rooms. Pure, cool water is the 
most healthful and beneficial drink for man and beast." 



THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT 

Jack and his father were passing a building that was be- 
ing constructed. The workmen were busy on the walls, 
laying bricks while wagons were dumping their loads of 
cement and stone. Nearby a man in blue uniform, wearing 
a gold badge on his cap, was watching the work that was 
being done. 

" Who is that officer with the gold badge? " asked Jack. 

" He is the building inspector," replied Mr, Brewster. 
" It is his duty to see that the building is erected according 
to the law. He has great power, for if he sees that the 
builders are violating the rules of the Building Department, 
he can stop all work on the building." 

" Can't a man build a house just as he wants to? " ques- 
tioned Jack. 

" No, indeed," answered his father. " Before a man can 
begin work on any building at all, no matter how small, he 
must first file the plans with the Building Department. 
Here the inspectors examine the plans to see if they do not 
violate the city laws regarding buildings. If they do not 
contain any faults, then the builder is given a permit to be- 
gin work. All the time that the work is going on, the in- 
spectors make sure that the erection of the building is done 
in a lawful manner. 

215 



2i6 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

" This task of seeing that our buildings are well con- 
structed and sanitary is performed by the Tenement House 
Department. Over this department, the mayor appoints a 
commissioner, who in turn chooses two assistants called 
deputies. Each deputy superintends the work in the differ- 
ent boroughs. Under the commissioner are over five hun- 
dred men who read j^lans. inspect new buildings and see 
that old ones are sanitary." 

" Did we always have these men to watch over the build- 
ings? " asked Jack. 

" No," replied Mr. Brewster. " It is only since 1901 that 
the Tenement House Department has been in existence. 
Before that the work had been done by the Fire Department 
and the Department of Health. But when our city began 
to grow so rapidly, this department was made. It is di\'ided 
into four divisions, called bureaus ; the Executive Bureau, 
the New Building Bureau, the Old Building Bureau and the 
Bureau of Records. 

" All complaints about tenement houses, that is, houses 
containing three or more families doing their cooking there, 
are received by the Executive Bureau. If conditions are 
unsanitary the matter is taken up by the men of this Bureau 
and also by the Bureau of Old Buildings. These inspectors 
go about to make sure that the cellars are clean and dry, that 
the plumbing is in good condition, that the halls are clean 
and lighted, and that garbage and rubbish is properly taken 
care of. Since the Tenement House Law was passed, a 
great improvement has been made in the condition of the 
tenements. Now if an owner does not keep the place in a 




Courtesy of Tenement House Department 

Inspectors Removing Obstructions 



2i8 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY 

sanitary condition, the inspectors can bring him to court and 
have him fined. 

" The work done by the New Building Department is also 
very important. In order to protect the people the city has 
passed many laws regarding the erection of buildings. 
These laws are enforced by this department. When a new 
tenement is to be built, the plans must be handed to these 
inspectors who look over them carefully regarding the size 
of the rooms, the amount of light, the size of the areaways 
and depth of the yard. Besides they are careful to see that 
the regulations concerning fire-proofing are observed. If 
the plans do not follow the rules of the Building Depart- 
ment, they are sent back for correction. If they are correct, 
they are approved and permission is then given for the erec- 
tion of the building. While the house is being built, the in- 
spectors watch to see that the laws are obeyed. At last 
when the building is completed and satisfactory, a certificate 
is granted which allows tenants to occupy the place. 

" The Bureau of Records keeps the records of new and 
old buildings. Here may be found the names of owners of 
the tenements. This bureau works in connection with the 
Department of Health. All cases of contagious disease are 
noted in the records of the Health Department and are 
turned over by the clerks in the Bureau of Records to the 
Old Building Department. When the reports are received 
here, inspectors visit the houses which were disinfected and 
examined to see if tlie illness was brought on by unsanitary 
conditions." 



THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT 219 

" I never thought that we had so many people taking care 
of our health," exclaimed Jack. 

" That is true; we do have a great number whose duty it 
is to keep our city safe and healthful," said his father. 
" We should be very grateful. If we had no one to see that 
cur buildings were erected carefully, serious results might 
follow. Poorly constructed houses would be erected and the 
people would suffer from collapsing buildings, unsafe homes 
and crowded dwellings. If no one took care that the tene- 
ments were kept clean, that the cellars were dry and the 
plumbing kept in repair, sickness would follow. When 
there are a great number of families in one house, this 
would be a very dangerous thing. 

" We should aid the Tenement House Department by see- 
ing that the fire-escapes are cleared of all boxes and bundles, 
that the cellars are clean and that the rooms receive plenty 
of fresh air and sunshine." 



